A Salina man is bilked out of nearly $18,500 in an internet scam.

Police say that back in August a 39-year-old Salina man met a woman on the cupid.com website. He believed the woman to be a civil engineer.

After corresponding with her over a period of time, the men sent her a web cam and an I-Phone.

The woman then convinced the man to send her a little over $9,400. The money was to be used to purchase airlines tickets so the woman and her children could fly from South Africa to Salina.

Finally, the woman sent the man a $10,000 check. He was instructed to deposit it in a bank, then withdraw $8,700 and send it to West Africa. He did as instructed. The check turned out to be phony.

The man contacted the woman about the bogus check. She told him that she was not coming to Salina because he was accusing her of being a liar. She has not contacted him since.

Total loss to the Salina man is $18,475.

Police add that the man had to take out a loan to cover the loss.