An Australian lady was conned into buying two apple fruits in a box for 1200 dollars, believing them to be Apple smart phones, reported NDTV.

Buying from people online can be very tricky, a 21 year old Australian lady learnt firsthand. The lady who was not named, posted an ad online in the Gumtree Web site. She wanted to buy two Apple smart phones. She was contacted by another lady who said she had "two apples" for sale.

The Web sites that offer such a service of providing a platform for buyers and sellers to meet cannot always ensure that the products for sale are authentic. Con artists taking advantage of this fact look for gullible victims online.

The two women met at a McDonald restaurant, where 1200 dollars exchanged hands in what seemed like a genuine exchange. The woman buying the product failed to check the box immediately after the purchase. It was only after reaching home that she realized that the box contained edible apple fruits instead of the iPhones.

This con, perhaps the first of its kind needs a special category in the kinds of scams that happen online.

Police from the Queensland town of Upper Mount Gravatt, near Brisbane, alerted people to be cautious when buying online.
"Don't stay away, because most people are doing the right thing, but be smart about what you buy," Senior Constable Jess Hopkin told the Herald Sun.

Gumtree spokeswoman Niki Hennessy said the company is very strict regarding the safety and security of its users.

"We are continually improving processes and user education to make Gumtree the safest possible platform for buying and selling," she said.