She was stressed, depressed and off work with a back injury, and the offer of £250,000 (NZ$504,000) from the kindly looking "Facebook cash officer" was just the sort of good news she needed.

So the 55-year-old Hastings woman, who does not want to be named, did as he asked and wired $544 by Western Union so her windfall could be couriered quick smart.

"I was thinking, `Oh God, someone is looking after me,"' she said. "I didn't even enter any competition. I was overwhelmed. It's all just so embarrassing. I just can't believe I fell for it now. I'm not a gullible person."

It all started early last month with a message on her Facebook page that said simply: "You have won."

She clicked on the message and was told to email the Facebook claims department with code numbers provided. A few days later she was emailed a message telling her she needed to wire the money to Trans Global Express Courier Service so she could receive her certified cheque.

A few days later she got a late phone call from a man who told her in broken English that she had to wire $5000 to the British Immigration Tax Office so her cheque could be released.

"I was told it was needed because it was such a large amount of money."

She thought that was a bit strange so spoke to her daughter, who told her it was probably a scam. Despite this, the woman went to her bank and got an application for a bank loan.

"But I never filled it in. I emailed the people [the scammers] back and told them I didn't have enough money."

Then she went to police and spoke to Senior Sergeant Luke Shadbolt, who issued a press statement warning others not to fall for the scam.