Dutch banks have agreed to share the contact details of swindlers with their victims, if requested and if a police report has been made, the AD reported on Tuesday.

Thousands of people a year fall victim to fraud via online sales platforms such as Marktplaats.nl, but until now they have only been able to go to court to get back the money they have lost.

Now, however, the banks have agreed that they will pass on information to the victims, if the swindlers refuse to pay back the stolen money within three weeks.

A spokesman for Marktplaats told broadcaster NOS that the company worked together with the police to combat internet fraud. ‘We will be monitoring this development,’ the spokesman said.