Tag:

Romance Scams

CYBERFOOTSIES: Ex-NJ Couple, Money Washer Confess $4.5M Online Romance Scam CYBERFOOTSIES: Ex-NJ Couple, Money Washer Confess $4.5M Online Romance Scam
Cyberfootsies: Ex-NJ Couple, Money Washer Confess $4.5M Online Romance Scam UPDATE: A former New Jersey couple and a local businesswoman have admitted scamming more than 100 lonely hearts out of $4.5 million in an elaborate online romance scheme, federal authorities charged. Martins Inalegwu, 35, took a deal from the government, pleading guilty in U.S. District Court in Camden on Monday, March 25 to conducting an unlawful money-transmitting business and evading taxes for four straight years. Inalegwu's wife, Steincy Mathieu, 27, had already pleaded guilty to tax evasion last November.  Oluwaseyi Fatolu, 56, of Springfield, followed her by admitting this past …
They Steal Your Heart, Then Steal Your Money: Romance Scammers Make It Look Easy They Steal Your Heart, Then Steal Your Money: Romance Scammers Make It Look Easy
They Steal Your Heart, Then Steal Your Money: Romance Scammers Make It Look Easy It's heartbreaking to discover that someone you've become enamored with online isn't into you, but it’s even worse to realize that person just made off with $3,500 of your money. That’s what happened to a Glen Rock resident who ended up wiring the dough to a sweet talker in the Dominican Republic. Suffice to say: It wasn’t coming back. Although $3,500 is a significant sum to some, it’s couch cushion change compared with the $450,000 in crypto lost last year by another romance scam victim from Glen Rock. According to the Federal Trade Commission, a staggering $1.3 BILLION was lost by 70,000…
Canton Man Who Swindled $1.1M From Lonely 'Mugus' Gets Over 4 Years In Prison: Feds Canton Man Who Swindled $1.1M From Lonely 'Mugus' Gets Over 4 Years In Prison: Feds
Canton Man Who Swindled $1.1M From Lonely 'Mugus' Gets Over 4 Years In Prison: Feds A 43-year-old man who admitted to preying on vulnerable and lonely people online to swindle $1.1 million from them was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison, authorities said. Mark Arome Okuo, of Canton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud and obstruction of justice earlier this year, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said. Along with his 55 months in prison, Okuo must repay his victims, the judge ruled.  Investigators said Okuo took part in romance scams, where he would meet his victims on dating and social media apps, gain their trust, …
Romance Scammer Who Swindled $1M From Victims Sentenced To 3 Years: Feds Romance Scammer Who Swindled $1M From Victims Sentenced To 3 Years: Feds
Romance Scammer Who Swindled $1M From Victims Sentenced To 3 Years: Feds A 38-year-old Canton woman who stole $1 million from her victims using romance scams and pandemic unemployment fraud will spend more than three years behind bars.  Florence Mwende Musau pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud and was sentenced to 44 months in prison and ordered to repay $957,000 in restitution and forfeit $350,000 and a Lexus SUV, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Investigators said Musau took part in a conspiracy where criminals would create fake profiles on dating apps to swindle cash from victims. To hide the money, she…
New Haven Man Sentenced For Scams That Defrauded Hundreds Across US Out Of Millions New Haven Man Sentenced For Scams That Defrauded Hundreds Across US Out Of Millions
New Haven Man Sentenced For Scams That Defrauded Hundreds Across US Out Of Millions A Connecticut man who took part in a massive scheme defrauding elderly victims out of millions of dollars is heading to federal prison. Rodney Thomas, age 31, of New Haven, was sentenced to six years behind bars Tuesday, Aug. 23 in federal court in Bridgeport after a jury convicted him of multiple charges stemming from the scheme. Federal prosecutors said Thomas and several others bilked 200 elderly victims across the country out of more than $5 million through bogus lottery and romance scams carried out between August 2015 and March 2020. Some unsuspecting victims were duped into sendin…
Special Deputy US Marshal Charged In Maryland For Laundering $1.9M During Romance Scam: DOJ Special Deputy US Marshal Charged In Maryland For Laundering $1.9M During Romance Scam: DOJ
Special Deputy US Marshal Charged In Maryland For Laundering $1.9M During Romance Scam: DOJ A romantic scam artist from Upper Marlboro lured his way into nearly $2 million before being caught, authorities say. Isidore Iwuagwu, 35, has been federally charged for conspiring to commit money laundering related to multiple online relationship scams according to the Department of Justice. Iwuagwu was able to commit these crimes all while working security as a Special Deputy United States Marshal and Department of Justice contractor, prosecutors said. Iwuagwu allegedly contacted victims on social media platforms and dating sites, engaging in online relationships with them before asking …
Bridgeport Man Sentenced For Role In $5M Lottery, Romance Fraud Schemes Bridgeport Man Sentenced For Role In $5M Lottery, Romance Fraud Schemes
Bridgeport Man Sentenced For Role In $5M Lottery, Romance Fraud Schemes A Connecticut man who took part in a massive scheme defrauding elderly victims out of millions of dollars is heading to federal prison. Stanley Pierre, age 35, of Bridgeport was sentenced to 2 ½ years behind bars Wednesday, Aug. 3 in federal court in Bridgeport after pleading guilty to one count of money laundering. Federal prosecutors said Pierre and several others bilked 200 elderly victims across the country out of more than $5 million through bogus lottery and romance scams carried out between August 2015 and March 2020. Some unsuspecting victims were duped into sending money after the…
Cyber-Footsie Scammers From NJ, MD, VA Swindle $7 Million From Mostly Elderly Victims, Feds Say Cyber-Footsie Scammers From NJ, MD, VA Swindle $7 Million From Mostly Elderly Victims, Feds Say
Cyber-Footsie Scammers From NJ, MD, VA Swindle $7 Million From Mostly Elderly Victims, Feds Say Mostly elderly victims across the United States were conned out of a whopping $7 million by a quartet of romance scammers from New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia – all of whom were arrested by the FBI, authorities said. The victims sent the money to the imposters thinking that they were helping out love interests, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. They lost a lot. Arrested this past week, Sellinger said, were: Nana Yaw Marfo, 37, of Virginia, who was accused of receiving at least $4.7 million; Chevon Braxton, 42, of Maryland, who was accused of collecting at least $1.3 million; Will…
CT Trio Found Guilty In $5 Million Fraud Scheme CT Trio Found Guilty In $5 Million Fraud Scheme
CT Trio Found Guilty In $5 Million Fraud Scheme Three former Connecticut residents were found guilty of charges related to their participation in scams that defrauded hundreds of victims across the United States of a total of more than $5 million. Farouq Fasasi, age 27, 31-year-old Rodney Thomas Jr., and 32-year-old Ralph Pierre, all ex-New Haven residents, were convicted on Tuesday, Feb. 15, of conspiracy, fraud and money laundering offenses, according to US Attorney Leonard Boyle. Between August of 2015 and March of 2020, Fasasi, Thomas and others participated in lottery scams and romance scams to get victims to send them money, gift c…
Don't Let Them Break Your Heart: FBI Issues Alert For Romance Scams Don't Let Them Break Your Heart: FBI Issues Alert For Romance Scams
Don't Let Them Break Your Heart: FBI Issues Alert For Romance Scams While Valentine's Day is a time for romantic gestures, the FBI has issued an alert to the public about romance scams.  The agency said in an alert on Monday, Feb. 14, that the scams take place when a criminal adopts a fake identity online to get the victim's trust and uses the close relationship to manipulate and/or steal from the victim. "The criminals who carry out romance scams are experts at what they do and will seem genuine, caring, and believable," the FBI said. "Con artists are present on most dating and social media sites." The FBI said eventually the scammer will ask the vic…
AT LAST: Accused Leaders Of Nigerian Online Romance Scams Taken Into Custody AT LAST: Accused Leaders Of Nigerian Online Romance Scams Taken Into Custody
AT Last: Accused Leaders Of Nigerian Online Romance Scams Taken Into Custody Several accused leaders of a Nigerian syndicate that victimized countless Americans through online romance scams were seized in Cape Town and will be brought to the United States to face prosecution, federal authorities said. The leaders of the Cape Town Zone of the Neo Black Movement of Africa and a co-conspirator are charged with pulling the scams on hundreds of thousands of victims -- some widowed or divorced -- for at least the past 10 years. From at least 2011 through 2021, leaders of the Mafia-styled organization -- better known as “Black Axe” -- conspired with others to con lonely Am…
FBI Issues Valentine's Day Romance Scam Warning After Woman Bilked Out Of $2M FBI Issues Valentine's Day Romance Scam Warning After Woman Bilked Out Of $2M
FBI Issues Valentine's Day Romance Scam Warning After Woman Bilked Out Of $2M With love in the air on Valentine’s Day, the FBI is warning that if an online courtship seems too good to be true, it just might be. Citing an incident when a woman in her 50s was bilked out of $2 million, the FBI issued an alert on Thursday regarding romance scams, which is an Internet crime that is on the rise. 
The FBI said that “victims - predominantly older, widowed or divorced women targeted by criminal groups usually from Nigeria - are, for the most part, computer literate and educated. But they are also emotionally vulnerable. And con artists know exactly how to exploit that vulnera…