Help needed: Status International (possible fraud)

Hi,
I am asking for your help regarding an international auction house Status International based in Sydney, Australia. I purchased a very expensive item from their July auction. The item is worth several thousands of Australian dollars. I paid this large sum of money into their bank account as instructed by them in mid August and expected them to send the item as soon as they have received my money. They have not.

I have sent them a few polite e-mails and contacted them via their web site, but they do not reply. The shipment was supposed to take place via FEDEX. I have asked them to quote the FEDEX tracking number. Again no reply.

It looks like they have decided to ignore me for one reason or other. Maybe they intend to keep my money and the item. Maybe they have already sold the item to somebody else. Who knows.

I thought Status International is an auction house with good reputation. Maybe they still are, but now I have very serious doubts about it.

What should I do? The amount of money lost is too big, I cannot let this be... Is there any way how I could launch an investigation? I am based in Finland, so it's difficult for me to do remotely. I have some friends in Australia, maybe they could help me out.

I received great attention from the Australian Philatelic Federation concerning this mishap. I have now received apologies from Status International Auctions. Somewhere their system failed informing the appropriate despatch personnel to organise the despatch. So everything's OK and I will hopefully receive the despatch soon.

Incidents like this are somewhat scary... Philately is a nice hobby but sometimes way too serious...