Woman conned on Facebook

A US woman was tricked into wiring about US$4000 (NZ$5900) to someone in England after receiving faked messages from a friend on Facebook asking for help.

Jayne Scherrman wired the money through Western Union after receiving what she believed were several requests for help from her friend, Sergeant Jason Selzer said.

Police were notified about the scam on August 26, Selzer said.

They believe someone took over the Facebook account of a Cape Girardeau County resident, Grace Parry, changed the password so she couldn't access it and sent out messages saying she and her husband had been detained in London and needed money.

Scherrman said she originally was told they needed US$600 for a hotel and taxis.

Then she was told it wasn't enough with the exchange rate.

Finally, she was told by a caller that the couple had been detained and more money was needed to help them fly home.

Scherrman asked to speak with her friend, but was told she wasn't available.

She also got a name from the caller and tried to get an address when she realised she might have been scammed.

By then, she had wired nearly US$4000 through three Western Union transfers, she said.

Parry said another friend from Mississippi also sent US$600.

Parry, who hadn't travelled to England in years, tried to access her account to warn other friends but couldn't.

She asked Facebook to suspend her account, and her husband posted warnings about the scam, including one Scherrman received after she'd sent the money.

Facebook said internet schemes like this one aren't uncommon.

Facebook has systems to detect suspicious behaviour tied to compromised accounts and blocks it when it possible, company spokesman Simon Axten said.

"We're also working with law enforcement and with Western Union (a wire transfer company commonly used by the scammers) to investigate specific cases and improve education," he said in an email.

- AP