CYBER shoppers are urged to be on their guard when they trade on the internet, after one resident fell victim to a scam.

Police have issued the warning after the Church Hill man tried to sell a mobile phone on www.amazon.co.uk

He received an email claiming to be from Amazon which asked him to send £150 as a refund, as well as to send the phone for an agreed price.

But he later discovered that although Amazon had confirmed the phone was for sale on the site, they had never contacted him in this way.

It is thought the emails were, in fact, from a Nigerian-based source and the seller had released personal financial information during the transaction.

The man is now concerned that although they have posted the phone to the prospective buyer they may not receive any money for it at all.

A police spokesman said: "We advise all people who are considering buying or selling items via the internet to check the site and any correspondence that they receive very carefully before proceeding.

"This is especially important when releasing personal information."