ScamSmart Australia

Online scam: Aussie fleeced of thousands

Sydney Morning Herald and AAP, 5 February 2008

A Gold Coast woman has lost thousands of dollars in an online romance scam.

Patricia Allan has told Queensland police she met a man claiming to be an Australian on a dating website four months ago.

The two developed an online relationship before the man, known only to Ms Allan as "David", told her he had been robbed and could not access his Australian bank account from Nigeria.

Ms Allan took out a loan for $8500 and sent the money to Nigeria in three separate payments.

Officers from the Fraud and Corporate Crimes Group are investigating the scam.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/aussie-fleeced-in-online-scam/2008/02/05/1202090382925.html