Rotherham couple among six arrested in major national operation targeting online fraudsters in Rotherham, Doncaster, Essex and Hampshire

Warrants were executed in Rotherham, Doncaster, Essex and Hampshire on Tuesday as part of Operation Snake Alpha, which targeted an organised crime group behind a series of eBay frauds.

Six arrests, including a 33-year-old man and 33-year-old woman from Rotherham, were made.

A further woman, aged 27, was arrested on suspicion of child neglect and remains in police custody.

Police said the “virtual vehicle scam” they were targeting is one of the most popular types of offence, where fraudsters require victims to pay a deposit on a vehicle and arrange for them to collect it from an address where the occupant has no knowledge or involvement in the fraud.

In most cases they have dealt with, police said, an advert has usually been cloned from elsewhere which will entice the buyer by advertising an in-demand make and model of car, with slightly below average price tag.

A spokesperson said a number of “money mules” had been recruited from across South Yorkshire to assist the swindlers’ operation, receiving money into their account and then transferring it to another.

Det Chief Insp Anna Sedgwick, who led the operation, said: “Today’s activity forms part of a large-scale, multi-agency investigation into the organised crime group who have been committing these frauds across the country over a number of years.

“As fraud mostly takes place online it’s instantaneous and fraudsters are often operating internationally.

“It can be very difficult to identify the criminals involved and bring them to justice.

“This operation shows the importance of collaboration to fight fraud and cyber crime.

“It has given us a unique opportunity to understand how these fraudsters are operating and work with partners across the country, including the National Crime Agency, to make significant arrests to disrupt the group.”

A spokesperson for the National Crime Agency’s National Economic Crime Centre said: “Criminals take advantage of the ease of online shopping and are known to use trusted selling platforms to appear more legitimate to potential buyers.

“If someone is genuinely selling a high value item, they will let you see the product before allowing you to part with any cash.

“Remember, if something appears too good to be true, then it usually is. If you have fallen victim to fraud or cyber crime, report it any time at www.actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040.

“Fraud has a devastating impact on victims — the NCA are committed to working with partners to tackle it.”