Internet dating scams involving men claiming to be US army officers remain a perennial favorite of tricksters, but police nicked three suspects in Hangzhou last week.

Liu, the alleged victim who lives in Qingpu District, made a report to the police on December 31 that she had lost over 600,000 yuan (US$88,700) to scammers, police said Wednesday.

Liu, in her 50s, said she met someone who claimed to be a US army officer on social networking platform QQ in March last year and began a “long-distance relationship.”

In October, the person, who called himself “Hiram,” sought Liu’s help in transferring his personal property (US$10 million) to China before coming to marry her. Liu had no doubts about his good intentions.

“Hiram” introduced her to “Aaron” who was to handle the transfer process.

First, “Aaron” asked her for 40,000 yuan to settle clearance on a box of US dollars at customs.

Liu told the police that she met “Aaron” afterward in a hotel in Huangpu District where he used some liquid to turn blank paper into “US dollars.”

This display only served to further reassure Liu, who agreed to transfer money to “Aaron” several more times for customs clearance and to pay for the mysterious liquid.

Liu barely speaks English and throughout communicated with the two on the Internet through translation software.

Police in Qingpu District could not find anything useful on footage from surveillance cameras near the hotel, but located the suspects through their QQ and bank accounts. Three suspects were caught on January 10 and are in detention while the investigation continues.

Police declined to reveal the nationalities of the suspects, but said one of them is surnamed Nchong.

The three suspects in custody were responsible for transferring Liu’s money further forward or taking it from local ATMs. “Aaron” and “Hiram” are still at large. Police have frozen about 100,000 yuan in the accounts.