Would you fall for this man? The picture of an 'interior designer' that Nigerian scammers used to dupe three Australian women into giving them more than $350,000

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A Western Australian woman has fallen victim to an internet scam, after a fake Facebook user manipulated her into paying him $300,000 from her by posing as an interior designer named Allan McCarty.

The woman was one of three known cases under investigation, in which the women were convinced that Mr McCarty was a cancer sufferer who wanted to pursue romantic relationships with them.

The two other cases under investigation include one woman from New South Wales who lost $50,000 and another person in Tasmania who was also conned.

McCarty used several fake business websites in an attempt to conceal his identity, each of which were registered to a Nigerian location.

A Western Australian woman has fallen victim to an internet scam, after a fake Facebook user manipulated her into paying him $300,000 from her by posing as an interior designer named Allan McCarty (pictured)

Acting Consumer Protection Commissioner Gary Newcombe said in a statement that the Nigerian criminals used Facebook profiles and a business website to create Allan McCarty, ‘a Scottish designer living in Australia and looking for love online.’

The victims believed they were sending money to the United States and Dubai - where McCarty was supposedly working - when in fact it was bring funnelled through to ‘mule accounts to West Africa’.

Consumer Protection acting director of retail and services Lanie Chopping told ABC: ‘There may be more victims nationally.’

‘This is typical romance scam ... the photos look very convincing,’ said Ms Chopping.

McCarty used several fake business websites including one that listed his achievments as an interior designer (pictured)

‘Scammers are organised criminals that are working day in, day out to manufacture identities that are going to be capable of getting money from Australians.

‘They are sophisticated, savvy and know how to pull the right strings,’ she continued.

The acting commissioner has revealed that the real man in the photographs had been identified, ‘but several attempts to contact him had been fruitless.’

Mr Newcombe said: ‘It is believed that the Nigerian Internet user or users previously posed as another fake identity called, Brian Scott,’ using the same photos used for Mr McCarty.

‘We know that the man in the photographs lives in California,’ said Mr Newcombe.

‘He has low security and privacy settings on his Facebook profile, making it easy for scammers to steal his pictures.

The company was also seen on Facebook (pictured) and allegedly used in an attempt to conceal his identity, and were both registered to a Nigerian location

‘In real life this man appears to have been battling cancer and we suspect the fraudsters have picked him for that reason,’ he continued.

This has allowed the scammers to not meet the victims in person and give the women involved ‘a reason to provide financial assistance’ explained Mr Newcombe.

The Western Australian woman became convinced she was in a romantic relationship with the man after he randomly requested to be her friend on Facebook, reported ABC.

She also provided money for his business and to help him through his illness.

According to the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission ‘Scam Watch,’ over 1,700 dating and romance scams have occurred across Australia in the past year.

While over $14.8 million of financial losses have been recorded in Australia.