A US crackdown on investment scams, identity theft and internet fraud has uncovered 89,000 victims conned out of $176m (£108m) since the start of the year, US Attorney General John Ashcroft has said.

The cases included allegations of advertising goods or services that did not exist, setting up fake banking websites to collect customer bank account details and non-delivery of items "sold" in online auctions.

There were also cases relating to alleged manufacture and sale of pirate films and other counterfeit goods, Mr Ashcroft said.

One person from California was charged with running an investment scam that collected $60m from 15,000 victims worldwide while a San Diego couple was charged with taking $600,000 in connection with a matchmaking service that promised to find Russian or Ukrainian brides.

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