Cops Hunt Internet Temptress

Police are hunting an Internet temptress who's been duping gullible men out of cash in a clever cyber-scam.

In her latest swoop,she befriended 17-year-old Jamie Darlington over the Internet e-mail system and persuaded him to travel more than 250 miles to go on a date.

When they met in Southampton,she asked him for £105 for some party tickets which she said she had bought for them,and then disappeared.

Police think many other men have been tricked but are too embarrassed to come forward,or scared their wives or girlfriends will find out.

The teenager,from Essex,was waiting for her in a taxi when he received a message on his mobile phone,saying "You are the most gullible person in the world.Thanks for the money - it will come in handy...Ha ha ha."

Police in Southampton say the woman calls herself Kirsty and are warning other men not to be taken in.

Computer worker Jamie told how he fell for the woman's charms on the worldwide web and decided to visit her after an e-mail romance lasting more than four weeks.

The teenager said "We used to exchange regular e-mails.In the middle of one Internet conversation,she asked me what I was doing on New Year's Eve.

"I said that I was thinking about going into work to earn some extra money.

"At that point,she invited me to Southampton to meet her friends and said we could go to some nightclubs.

"She wanted me to send some money in advance but I was a bit wary and said 'no'."

Eventually Jamie agreed to visit her and he arrived by train,having pre-booked five nights' accommodation in a city centre hotel.

Kirsty collected him from Southampton central station and asked him for £105 in cash.

She claimed to have borrowed that amount from a friend for nightclub tickets and wanted to re-pay them.

The pair caught a taxi and before long the woman jumped out,saying she was going to hand back the money.She never returned.

After receiving her text message poking fun at him,and realising he had been taken for a ride,he checked into his hotel and alerted police.

Embarrassed Jamie said "I feel a bit stupid about it all now.

"Altogether the episode has cost me about £500 if you include hotel fees,taxis and train fares.

"What really bothers me is that she may have done this to other people too."

The female fraudster used the e-mail address luckgirlSO15,convincing police she is local due to the Southampton postcode reference.

She is believed to be in her late teens.She told her victim she was a hairdresser and introduced him to her boyfriend and his daughter aged about five.

Jamie said she was stocky with collar-length gingery blonde hair and wearing a pink zip-up fleece.

She spoke with a nasal-type voice and left a black leather handbag containing an empty Barbie doll box in the taxi.

Today police released a photograph of a woman wanted in connection with the fraud.

It is understood she may now look older and has lighter hair.

PC Simon Bradbury,of Shirley police,said "Understandably the victim feels upset about what has happened.

"This woman has taken him for a ride quite literally and we want to hear from anyone who knows her or has information regarding her whereabouts."

Police today reminded computer enthusiasts to be cautious about meeting people they befriend over the Internet,and to arrange meetings in a well-lit public place with a friend or family member.