35 Nigerians are being held in the United States for a $117 million romance scam.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States has detained 35 Nigerians in North Texas for their roles in a $117 million fraud.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States has apprehended 35 Nigerians suspected of being fraudsters.
They were accused of defrauding and stealing from naïve senior American citizens through elaborate romantic schemes.
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, has detained 35 Nigerians in North Texas for their roles in a $117 million fraud.
The defendants, who reportedly scammed over 100 people around the country, would face money laundering and wire fraud charges.
They were accused of defrauding and stealing from naïve senior American citizens through elaborate romantic schemes.
It was discovered that the suspects used fictitious names on dating websites to prey on their victims, who included widower and divorced people.
These victims were duped into trusting the scammers by giving a fabricated snivel narrative and then seeking a big sum of money.
Acting US Attorney Prerak Shah noted during a press conference announcing the charges against them, “These crooks thrive on victims’ isolation, loneliness, and, in some cases, bereavement.” The only error these victims make is being overly helpful to the wrong people.”
“Once their savings were gone, they vanished into thin air.” Romance scams are notoriously difficult to prosecute because victims are frequently ashamed, feel tricked, and are unwilling to come forward.”
Shah encourages victims to come forward and reassures them that romance scams are more widespread than they may believe, revealing that over 20,000 people lost $600 million in romance scams in 2020.
Meanwhile, eleven of the arrests occurred in the Northern District of Texas, while the remaining 24 occurred in the Eastern District of Texas.
