Bride-seeking Australian held hostage in Mali internet scam

A south Australian farmer has warned of the perils of falling in love over the internet, after an online bride scam almost cost him his life.

Des Gregor, 56, has arrived back in Adelaide after being held hostage in the African nation of Mali for 12 days.

He had gone there expecting to marry a woman he had met over the internet, and pick up a US$86,000 (£43,000) dowry.



But instead he was held hostage, with his kidnappers demanding US$86,000 from him in ransom.

His relatives sounded the alarm when they started receiving strange e-mails asking for money.

At that point the Australian authorities decided to lay a trap of their own. They managed to persuade the kidnappers that Mr Gregor could pick up the ransom money at the Canadian embassy. It was there that he was rescued by the Australian federal police after being held for 12 days.

With news video.