A couple who conspired together to fleece eBay users worldwide out of around £300,000 in a long-running scam are due to be sentenced at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court on Friday. Nicolae Cretanu, 30, and his wife Adriana, 23, a Romanian couple based in east London, conned marks into handing over cash for non-existent goods.

The duo operated using 12 alias to run bogus auctions for approximately two years. They persuaded George Titar, 23, a Romanian illegal immigrant to pick up their ill-gotten money from Western Union offices in London. A portion of the loot was sent back to crime bosses in Romania. The scam unravelled after Western Union staff smelled a rat and called in the police who launched an operation that ultimately led to the arrest of the Cretanus in May.

The Cretanus and Titar were all found guilty of various deception and money laundering offences and are due to be sentenced at Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court on Friday, the London Evening Standard reports. ®