An NIU student was arrested on March 21 for allegedly defrauding people on the Internet auction site, eBay.

Kelly McClure, a journalism major and former Northern Star employee, was taken into custody by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department after a warrant was issued for her arrest on March 19. McClure was charged with felony theft.

Lt. Jim Kayes of the DeKalb Police Department said McClure allegedly received payment for tickets she advertised online, but she never sent the buyers the tickets. The incidents, which occurred in February, cost the alleged victims a total of $2,586, with each person losing an average of $500 to $720 a piece. People allegedly sent checks and money orders to McClure, who cashed them, but they never received the products they paid for.

EBay policy states, “It is not permitted for a seller on eBay to refuse to accept payment or fail to deliver an item at the end of a successful sale,” according to its Web site, www.ebay.com.

The Web site also lists the appropriate steps to report violations and possible consequences, from warnings to suspensions. Misrepresenting the item or not delivering the item for sale count as “Seller Non-Performance” according to the Web site, which also will result in the same consequences.

EBay investigates the reports of fraud, but privacy policy prevents it from discussing the results of the investigation.

McClure will have a status hearing at 1:30 p.m. on Friday at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore.