Hope may be on the horizon for the lonely-hearted conned out of money through internet scams after one Queensland woman was reimbursed in an Australia-first.
The 56-year-old woman, who only wants to be known as Ann, on Tuesday was handed a cheque from Nigerian authorities after she lost nearly A$45,000
to a Nigerian university student who posed as a middle-aged British widower.
"I just needed company ... he really made me believe," the retiree from the Gold Coast told reporters in Brisbane.
During the two-year online relationship, Ann made numerous transactions to the suitor to help pay for the "life-saving surgery" he needed following a car crash.
But the scam unfolded in 2007, when he sent Ann images of the crash, and with a little sleuth work, it was found to be a fake.
"I'm embarrassed, but he was so professional," Ann said.
"He posed as four different people - his travel agent, his boss, the doctor and the police officer. He had all the proof."
Detective Superintendent Brian Hay said Ann was lucky and most people who are duped never see a penny back.
"It's the first time in Australia we were actually able to provide money back to a victim of fraud that was perpetrated by offenders based in Nigeria," Hay told reporters in Brisbane on Monday.
"This is not a normal story. The reality is that if anyone sends money ... they will not recover funds or see the offender arrested."
Ann will not see all the money she lost, but has recouped 25 per cent through the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crime Commission.
Queensland police worked with the organisation, as well as the Nigerian High Commission, to track down the offender. The 25-year-old perpetrator was convicted for fraud in 2009 and sentenced to 19 years' jail.
Supt Hay said he hoped the tough sentence would act as a deterrent amid fears more Australians will fall victim as more internet access is rolled out through Nigeria.
"Romance scams have exploded 1000 per cent over the last three years," he said.
"Queenslanders are now sending between A$800,000 and A$1 million a month to Nigeria, and unfortunately the vast majority is victims' money."
- AAP
