Alert over website auction crime

An alert over fraud on internet auction sites used by millions was issued today.

Sarah Kidner, of Which? Computing magazine, said: "We estimate there are 200 fraudulent auctions every day on eBay in Britain, and that figure will only get higher as more and more people use the site."

According to Miss Kidner, consumers being scammed online are also finding it increasingly difficult to recover their money.

She said: "One of the biggest problems is that eBay will only reimburse users for £105. If you're buying a car for several thousand pounds, you're really taking a big risk and could lose an awful lot of money." However, this has not stopped a raft of celebrities, including Cherie Blair, from using the site. The Prime Minister's wife has bought everything from shoes to toys for her children on eBay.

Miss Kidner claims that if you do want to buy online, commonsense is the key. She said: "We would recommend people always try to get the seller to deliver the goods in person."

Gareth Griffiths of eBay said: "We have a 0.1 per cent fraud rate but of course it happens. eBay is actually a very bad place to sell stolen goods because it is so transparent and the police monitor us for stolen items."

A Met spokeswoman said: "We would urge anyone using an internet auction site to choose to pay for their goods upon delivery, rather than sending cash in advance."

Jim Angel, of the Federation Against Copyright Theft, claimed eBay contained thousands of pirate DVDs, adding: "We are working closely with eBay to tackle the problem, but it is very difficult.

As soon as we shut down one seller they just re-register on eBay under a different name and start selling again."

The British Museum also claims items stolen from archaeological digs around the country are being sold via eBay.

Roger Bland, its director of the Portable Antiquities Scheme, said: "Britain is faced with the problem of the clandestine theft of archaeological treasures by metal detectorists.

"Our fear is that eBay is providing a conduit for thieves, allowing them to offload antiquities."