Romance scam sees woman in Spain pay €140,000 to who she believed was her lover recovering in a US hospital

A WOMAN was tricked out of over €140,000 by believing she was in an online romantic relationship with a man in the United States.

The Guardia Civil arrested the alleged female perpetrator of the scam- aged 26- when she was about to fly out of Spain from Alicante-Elche airport.

An associate, a 41-year-old woman from Callosa del Segura in Alicante province, was also detained.

The victim told the Guardia that she was in contact with a man who told her he had been admitted to hospital in Chicago and needed help with his expenses.

The woman made numerous bank transfers to different accounts all in the bogus boyfriend’s name.

In one instance, the love-struck victim sent money via registered mail to a Callosa address.

All of the bank transfers and cash ended up transferred to Nigeria where the bogus social network profiles were created.

Investigators carried out a house search in Callosa where mobile phones, tablets and computers were seized.

Four bank accounts used in the scam have been blocked.

The Guardia probe is is still ongoing with the detainees charged with fraud, document falsification and belonging to a criminal gang.

Both women were bailed with the 26-year-old suspect having her passport withdrawn.