Two women from Utrecht should be given jail terms for conning four vulnerable men out of a total of €418,000 after pretending to be their love interest, the public prosecution department told a court on Tuesday.

The 32-year-old woman approached the men – usually older and divorced – via dating websites and once contact had been established, began to spin tales about her financial difficulties.

The other woman, in reality her mother-in-law, played other parts in the story, including that of the friend and debt relief councillor. Once the victims transferred money to ‘keep their girlfriend out of prison’, the older woman withdrew the cash and all contact was broken.

The public prosecutor said the younger woman, who has earlier convictions for fraud, should be jailed for 30 months. The older woman faces 25 months, 12 suspended.

The court will rule in two weeks.