Krumbach, Germany  - Authorities in Germany placed a seven- month-old baby in care after their parents offered to sell it on the internet auction site eBay for one euro
(1.55 dollars), police said Friday.

Internet users alerted police who called at the couple's home in the Bavarian district of Unterallgaeu where the child's 23-year-old mother claimed the idea was just a prank.

But police thought differently and launched a criminal investigation into the couple on suspicion of trading in children.

Local authorities were looking after the baby, which police said was in good health.

eBay deleted the offer from the website earlier this week. (dpa)