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Dozens of ads have sprung up on UK shopping sites touting the fakes as “pranks” to get revenge on an ex-lover.

But in the US, where the trend started, they have been used to con men into a shotgun wedding or extort money from them. One seller, from Liverpool, is offering the positive tests for £7 each on ad site Gumtree.co.uk.

She writes: “Wanting to get revenge on an ex-boyfriend or even a trick on your parents or friends?

“Now here’s your chance with these real used positive pregnancy test (big craze in America) they will be posted out 1st class on the same day on request.” Another woman, from County Antrim, asks for £25 and adds: “Don’t care what you need it for. Will post next day delivery as soon as payment received.”

On eBay in the UK, 17 sellers were offering genuine used tests under the heading Prank/Joke/Baby for between £3 and £13.

One woman, from Burton upon Trent, Staffs, wrote: “Clear & simple brand positive pregnancy test. Done on day of postage. Good for a prank.”

Another, from Norfolk, warned: “It’s a fun humorous joke, but please don’t give anyone a heart attack. Just Check Your Partner.”

The scam started in the United States when pregnant women started offering tests on shopping site Craigslist.

Many claimed they had been inundated with requests from women keen to trick their men.