STUDENT FILES FRAUD COMPLAINT AGAINST INTERNET COMPUTER FIRM

A 21-year-old Cape Girardeau college student bought a computer through the Internet but never got the computer, police said.

Investigators are looking into a rare complaint of Internet fraud involving a company based in Charlotte, N.C. The company was selling the computer system for less than $750 in June, Cpl. Kevin Orr said.

The student had wired cash to the company and was to receive the computer within two weeks.

After several e-mail messages and phone calls to North Carolina, the student took his complaint to police this week, Orr said.

Police get few complaints about Internet purchases because Internet shopping is a relatively new concept, Orr said.

Like in many cases with credit card fraud, police have difficulty investigating these cases because the company or person at fault usually is in another state. Police then have to rely on assistance from other law enforcement agencies, and the quality of assistance varies widely, Orr said.