A British woman in Birmingham was left contemplating suicide after being deceived by a close friend of twenty years, Sumaiya Khurram, who catfished her online and drained her life savings of £92,300 (Rs 98.5 lakh). Khurram, 33, posed as a "pretty boy" on WhatsApp, claiming to be in love with the victim and asked for money to pay for cancer treatment at a private clinic.

The fraud occurred between 2015 and 2017 when Khurram introduced the victim to someone named Etesham Khan, manipulating the victim's religious beliefs to convince her that he was interested in marrying her. The victim, a vulnerable individual with physical disabilities, trusted Khurram and was led to believe the relationship was genuine. The scam lasted for 20 months, with Khurram receiving a total of 52 payments amounting to £92,300.

Khurram has been sentenced to three years and nine months in prison after pleading guilty to fraud. The court heard that Khurram exploited her friend's vulnerabilities, knowing well about her physical disabilities and personal struggles. The victim has spoken out about the emotional and financial toll, revealing that she considered suicide due to the devastating impact of the fraud.

During the trial, prosecutors described the crime as a "despicable" act of betrayal, highlighting the emotional and financial devastation the victim endured. The judge, Peter Cooke, expressed strong condemnation of Khurram's actions, emphasizing her betrayal of the victim’s trust. Khurram’s defense attorney argued that she had shown remorse, but the court concluded that her actions were deliberate and cruel.