Sex buyers defrauded by 16-year-old boy

A 16-year-old boy has been sentenced to community service after stealing money from the bank accounts of several men who believed they were paying to see young girls pose naked on the internet.

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The boy, from Mölndal in western Sweden, told prospective customers that they would get one free viewing. There was just one catch: they had to first hand over their personal ID numbers, bank account details and internet bank codes, Metro reports.

Three men fell headlong into the computer whizz's trap and had a combined total of 56,000 kronor ($9,000) withdrawn from their accounts.

But the 16-year-old did not stop there. Instead he assumed the identity of a secret police officer on the hunt for internet sex buyers. In an ironic twist, the boy used the name of an officer who had led a previous investigation into his fraudulent dealings.

The boy told the men that they had been reported for sex offences and would have to give the police access to their bank accounts if they were to be cleared of the charges.

"If I don't find anything unusual I will leave you alone," the boy told one man, before withdrawing 15,000 kronor from his account.

The 16-year-old old said he used the money to buy clothes and eat out at restaurants.

He was sentenced on Wednesday for ten cases of fraud to 80 hours of community service. He was also ordered to report to social services for treatment.