ABSTRACT
The potential for online fraud conducted through auctions is vast. One of the most common types of frauds are those known as '419 frauds' or the 'Nigerian Advanced Fee Scam'. Whilst there are a variety of different types of fraud that can be conducted through auctions, the most common are: shill bidding, bid shielding, non-delivery of goods, goods that are not legitimate or as described and over-payment. An interesting quirk of 419 frauds is that whilst they may be one of the most well known examples of cyber-fraud, 419 frauds predate the internet. The growth of e-dating has meant that 'fraudsters can cast their nets wider' than they perhaps traditionally would and the growth in dating websites means that would-be fraudsters have a list of potential victims. Action Fraud is a national reporting mechanism that was created by the City of London Police to provide a single point of contact for fraud.
