Fraudster in court for net auction sales scam (UK)

THE dangers of online shopping were highlighted when a man was yesterday convicted of using eBay to cheat customers.

Wayne O'Boyle took £5,000 from victims by advertising electrical goods he did not have on the internet auction site. Judge John Walford, at Teesside Crown Court, said: "It strikes at the heart of the internet auction system.

"What he did is too easy for anyone with half a brain and a degree of cunning."

The 27-year-old, from Marton Road, Middlesbrough, used bogus names, email addresses and telephone numbers so customers could not trace him.

Northern Echo