A “wicked” woman who cynically catfished a female friend out of her life savings by pretending to be a “pretty boy” in love with her has been jailed.
Sumaiya Khurram, 33, convinced her victim to part with more than $110,000 after “dangling” images of an attractive male in front of her on WhatsApp.
She posed as a man who needed private treatment for blood cancer and took advantage of her friend, who she had known for 20 years.
Birmingham Crown Court heard the “despicable” deception went on for 20 months before the victim ran out of money.
Khurram, from Bordesley Green, Birmingham, previously admitted fraud and was jailed for three years and nine months last week.
Judge Peter Cooke described it as: “One of the most despicable cases of its kind he had ever come across.”
The court was told Khurram had sent numerous pictures of a young Asian male including one with a heart with the words ‘I love you.’
Communications were all done via WhatsApp and included discussions over “how far she would go sexually.”
Andrew Wallace, prosecuting, said “This case concerns the defendant catfishing her friend by pretending to be a boy who was in love with her.
“She (the victim) was a vulnerable individual who had obvious physical disabilities and who believed that the defendant was her friend.
“She was inexperienced in the ways of the world.”
He said the offense took place between 2015 and 2017 and the victim had been introduced to someone called Etesham Khan by Khurram.
The defendant then took advantage of the victim’s strict Muslim faith and she believed that Khan was someone she was going to meet and marry.
Wallace said the victim was conned into handing over $113,300 after being told that her fictitious lover was suffering from blood cancer and needed private care.
Wallace added: “At the same time the defendant was acting as her confidante discussing the relations ship and encouraging it.
“Even after the money had run out there were threats made by the defendant of exposing it.”
He said the victim made a total of 52 payments and the money either went into her account or was transferred to members of her family.
In a statement the victim said they had been friends for 20 years and Khurram, who knew she had been bullied at school, had betrayed her trust.
She added: “She has taken away my health and wealth and I have felt like taking my own life at times.”
Sentencing, the judge said “Your families have been on friendly terms for 20 years plus and you have been or pretended to be her friend since your teens.
“You knew all about her, of course, you knew of her physical disabilities and mobility difficulties.
“You knew of her character and made a shrewd assessment.
“You knew full well how vulnerable she was when you embarked on this wicked scheme.
“She was inexperienced in the ways of the world and you dangled before her the images of a pretty boy, a character you created.
“Fifty-two individual payments were extracted from her, to the tune of $113,300, which was either pocketed by you or disseminated amongst members of your family.
“You bombarded her with pictures.”
Justin Jarmola, defending, said Khurram had shown remorse and although it was “catfishing of a particular nasty nature” it was not that sophisticated or required that much planning.
He added the offense had been committed many years ago and that the defendant had not offended since.
