Police issue warning over auction payments

Police have warned the public to use approved payment methods when settling up for goods bought on auction websites.

Gwent police said that users should be particularly wary of any seller who asks them to pay by money transfer.

The warning came after Cwmbran Youth Court referred the case of a local teenager to the Crown Court because it did not have the powers to deal with his case.

The 17-year-old from Pontypool offered non-existent goods for sale on eBay and earned almost £50,000 before he was caught.

He took friends on expensive foreign trips and ferried them around on nights out in a hired limousine, as well as buying all the latest gadgets.

The boy, who is too young to be named in the media, duped more than 100 eBay customers over 13 months. One victim lost £2,500. He admitted 21 charges and asked for a further 64 to be taken into consideration.