The UK has forged closer ties with Canada, Australia and New Zealand in a crackdown on Internet scams.

In the past UK consumers have been suckered into such cons as Canadian lottery scams (in which people are told they've hit the jackpot but need to hand over taxes or a handling fee) and other "dubious e-mail approaches urging people to part with their money".

Now the UK government is to share information over fraudsters with their counterparts in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Said UK Consumer Minister Gerry Sutcliffe: "These new links reflect our common determination to tackle global competition and consumer law abuses - particularly over the Internet." ®