A Qatari man paid more than half a million dollars to three Nigerian men posing as the daughter-in-law of deceased Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, the National reports.

The men, who are on trial in a Dubai court, sent the 32-year-old emails asking for his help to access a trust fund in Gaddafi’s name at the United Nations office in Egypt.

The Qatari agreed to help in return for 20 percent of the funds, he told the court.

From June to September of last year, he wired the men some $562,000, until growing suspicious that he was a victim of a scam and contacted Dubai police.

One of the reported scammers was arrested. Two others were named, but one fled the country. None of the defendants, who are charged with fraudulently obtaining $562,000 from the Qatari man, showed up to court, and the case has been postponed to May 15.

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Credit: Photo for illustrative purposes only by Damien du Toit