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Page last updated at 15:31 GMT, Monday, 1 September 2008 16:31 UK
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Thousands lost in internet scam

A County Durham woman has warned people of the risks of online dating after losing £11,000 in a web scam.

Deborah Staveley, 42, from Sherburn, near Durham, believed she was in touch with a man from Manchester.

But police believe he may have been a Nigerian-based gangster who conned her into thinking his daughter had been kidnapped and needed a ransom.

Durham Police said they were investigating the con, after Ms Staveley admitted to being "naive".

Ms Staveley believed the man to be an architect called John Thomas based in Republic of Benin, whose daughter was suffering from Malaria. She was then kidnapped.

I was sucked in. It is my own stupid fault
Deborah Staveley

Ms Staveley said she provided the man with her bank details and later became suspicious when large amounts of cash were channelled through her account.

She said "I admit to being naïve but the story of his daughter dying tugged at my heart strings.

"I had no reason to believe money he sent me was fraudulent, now my bank has frozen my account, I can't pay my bills or mortgage."

She added: "I was sucked in. It is my own stupid fault.

"I have since found out he has tricked another woman in Brighton but there will be others, they should be made aware."

Durham Police said it would be hard to recover any of the money if the investigation leads back to Nigeria.



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