Jail, fine over surrogacy scam

Audrey Magallon. Photo / Supplied

An American woman has been jailed, fined and ordered to stop using the internet in connection with a surrogacy scam involving a New Zealand couple.

Oregon woman Audrey Magallon, 31, offered to be a surrogate mother for Helensville couple James Hapurona and Leanne Greenwood. They sent her US$2000 ($2529) and "biological material".

The couple contacted police in Magallon's home town of Astoria, Oregon, when they suspected they had been scammed.

Magallon last week pleaded guilty to five criminal charges including theft and computer fraud and was sentenced to 20 days in jail and two years' probation.

She was also fined US$10,000 and banned from using the internet.