The trial begins in Haarlem on Monday of a gang suspected of conning 2,200 people with fake deals on auction website Marktplaats.nl, the Telegraaf reports.

The gang is alleged to have sold smartphones, tablets, satnavs, games  and other electronic equipment via the website but never delivered the goods. Three weeks have been set aside for the trial.

The leader is said to be 28-year-old Remy D from Alkmaar who ran a team of 40 people using fake accounts to offer the non-existent goods. D faces charges of leading a criminal organisation, money laundering and fraud.

The gang is said to have got away with more than €250,000 during the 1.5 years it was active – from February 2012 to June 2013.

Some 2,200 people are said to have been conned. Of them, 1,200 people made formal complaints to the police and 928 cases are being handled in the trial.