NZ woman loses $NZ267k to Nigerian scammer

A LOVESICK New Zealand woman has reportedly been swindled out of more than a quarter of a million dollars by a Nigerian scam artist.

THE two met online before the Nigerian man, Akintunde Vincent Abiodun, posing under the English alias of Christopher Williams captured the woman's heart.

He convinced her to send $NZ267,000 ($A243,668), reassuring her he was good for the money courtesy of a family heirloom: a gemstone worth more than $NZ18 million.

She believed he was using the money to come to New Zealand and settle down with her.

The Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is investigating Abiodun, and he is set to be arraigned once the investigation is complete, Nigerian media have reported.