The Yellowknife RCMP are warning the public about a Facebook scam that targeted the friends of a local woman.

Someone set up a Facebook account under the woman's name, used a real picture of her, and added her actual friends.

Then, the imposter claimed that she took part in a poverty program and by giving $250 she got $40,000 in return.

Const. Amanda McGillivray said some of the woman’s friends fell for it.

“There's conversation back and forth between the imposter account and some of her friends, where they state initial disbelief about the program,” she said.

McGillivray said the imposter account replied to the woman’s friends saying it did really work and that she had just received the money.

“Because her friends know her to be a trustworthy person, some of the people, as a result, have fallen for this scam,” she said.

McGillivray said she doesn't know how many friends sent money to the imposter, but that the account has been closed.

The RCMP are still investigating and have been in contact with security at Facebook.