Police warning:

Officers are urging people to be vigilant when making payments online after more than a dozen victims were cheated out of money.

Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the sale of mobile phones to 18 people via the online sales sites Gumtree’ and ‘Shpock’.

The phones being advertised for sale have been mainly Apple iPhone 6s and Samsung Galaxy 7s and victims have lost hundreds of pounds.

In each case the seller has insisted the buyer uses an online bank transfer rather than Paypal with a view to sending the phone using the Post Office tracking system – but the phone has never been dispatched.

Victims have been targeted from areas including Gorleston, Hemsby, Norwich and Thetford as well as elsewhere in the country including Essex, Suffolk, London and Nottingham.

Investigations are ongoing to identify the suspect/s however officers would like to urge members of the public to be extra vigilant when paying for such items online.

Officers would also like to hear from anyone who believes they may be a victim of such crime. Anyone with information or, who wishes to make a crime report, is asked to contact PC Paul Atkinson at Norfolk Constabulary on 101.

To report a fraud or any online crime you can also call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use the online fraud reporting tool at www.actionfraud.police.uk