AN INTERNET fraud scam conning people out of thousands of pounds is claiming up to six victims a week.

Police are now urging the public to wise up to the con, which targets people selling cars, boats, caravans and motorhomes on the Internet.

The scam starts when a potential buyer responds to an Internet advert, saying they are keen to snap up the item.

The vendor gives details and the so-called purchaser sends a cheque.

But the payment will be several thousand pounds in excess of the car, boat or caravan's selling price - a £10,000 car will spark a £15,000 cheque, or a £70 surf board might prompt a £1,500 payment. When the seller contacts the buyer to query the cheque, the purchaser will claim he has made a mistake by including the shipping agent's fee.

Crucially, he will then ask the seller to cash the cheque and send the surplus funds to a non-existent shipping agent.

Often, the vendor is so pleased to offload their vehicle for the full asking price that they agree to the transaction.

Five or six days later, after the excess has been paid in, the cheque bounces - leaving the vendor several thousand pounds out of pocket and with no way of clawing back the cash. Det Con Bob Ashton, investigating the crimes in the county, says around five or six incidents are now being reported each week.

"Several people in the area have been defrauded out of many thousands of pounds and while it used to be a fairly rare occurrence, many incidents are now being reported to Hampshire police on a weekly basis.

"The old adage of buyer beware has now been turned to read vendor beware," he added.

Have you been a victim of Internet fraud in this way? Contact Claire Moriarty at the Daily Echo on 023 8042 4495 to tell your story, or e-mail her using the link above.