A celebrity imposter send love messages to a woman in Hangzhou, East China's Jiangsu Province, in a "love spell" scheme that swindled her out of three million yuan. Photo: Screenshot of a video posted by We Video

A woman in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, was tricked out of 3.3 million yuan ($475,000) after being persuaded that she could use a "love spell" to magically make her favorite movie star fall in love with her, Hongxing News reported on Friday. 

The scam artist, surnamed Li, became a close friend of the victim, surnamed Tong, after frequently shopping at Tong's clothes store, and came up with the idea when she learned that the woman had a huge crush on a male star.

Li then pretended to be the star and started chatting online with Tong in exchanges that lasted for more than one year. 

According to messages revealed by the police, Li, the imposter, tried to persuade Tong that her favorite star was besotted with her. 

"I've been going crazy recently because I can't reach you by phone, and I'm going out of my mind thinking about you," one message read.  

Tong was swindled out of 4.2 million yuan ($604,000), including the "love spell" scam and other "witchcraft" that Li said would bring her fortune and good luck, according to the police. 

Tong finally figured out that she had fallen prey to a trick after several failed attempts to meet the male star in person.  

Li has been arrested and the case is still under investigation.