Nigerian Man Arrested In Canada For Defrauding Women Of $600k In Romance Scam

Toronto police have arrested a 28-year-old Nigerian man, Chimezie Nwabueze, for allegedly running an online romance scam that cost two women more than $600,000 in Canada.

According to Peel Regional Police, the scam took place between June 2021 and July 2023 when Nwabueze posed as the owner of an oil rig in the Middle East and convinced the women, whom he met through an online dating platform, that he urgently needed money.

He reportedly promised to repay them and even hinted at meeting them in person, but that never happened.

Police said the women never met him physically and only communicated online.

When they eventually questioned him, he cut off all contact, and the victims were never reimbursed for the funds, which totalled $610,382.

Nwabueze was arrested on Monday and is facing several serious charges, including fraud over $5,000, laundering proceeds of crime, possessing property obtained by crime, using forged documents, and involvement in a criminal organization.

He has been released with a promise to appear in court in Brampton at a later date.

Police believe there may be more victims and that Nwabueze may be part of a wider criminal group that targets older adults on dating sites, preying on their trust and vulnerability to commit fraud.

Investigators also revealed that this isn’t his first run-in with the law. In November 2023, Nwabueze was arrested for a similar romance scam that allegedly cost another victim over $250,000. That case is still in court.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with more information to contact Peel Regional Police’s Fraud Bureau.

KanyiDaily had also reported how a 53-year-old woman named Anne fell victim to a sophisticated romance scam, believing she was in a relationship with Hollywood actor, Brad Pitt.