Fake online shops used to track illegal fireworks buyers

The Netherlands police used Poland-based fake online shops to track down potential buyers of illegal fireworks. Amsterdam Fireworks / Flickr Last month, an anti-illegal fireworks campaign was launched to discourage online purchase of illegal fireworks. In Netherlands, many of the buildings are wood-framed and susceptible to fire damage. The police collected details of more than 500 buyers who wanted to purchase illegal fireworks. They were sent a personalised video message from the police, warning them that buying illegal fireworks is a crime. In addition, the police sent a letter to those buyers. Police spokesperson Ellie Lust told Nos television that the police had not been given full personal details of people who placed orders. The fireworks task force’s special safety foundation, Stichting VeiligheidNL, was responsible for managing those online websites.