Canadian authorities have arrested a Nigerian national, Chimezie Nwabueze, in Toronto over an alleged romance scam that defrauded two victims of more than $600,000 through deceitful online interactions. The arrest was made by the Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau following an extensive investigation into a scheme that spanned over two years.
Nwabueze, 28, is now facing multiple criminal charges, including two counts of fraud over $5,000, two counts of possessing property obtained by crime, uttering forged documents, laundering the proceeds of crime, participating in a criminal organisation, and instructing criminal activities on behalf of such an organisation. He has been released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a future date.
“Investigators from the Peel Regional Police Fraud Bureau have arrested and charged an individual in connection to an alleged online romance scam, totaling more than $600,000.”
Between June 2021 and July 2023, two individuals were allegedly deceived by Nwabueze after meeting him via an online dating platform. Believing they were in a romantic relationship, they sent significant sums of money following claims that he owned an oil rig in the Middle East and was in urgent need of financial assistance. He promised to repay the money and meet them in person, but that never occurred.
“The suspect fraudulently claimed to own an ‘Oil Rig’ in the Middle East and urgently needed money, promising repayment and an eventual meeting.”
Eventually, when the victims began questioning the situation, all communication from the suspect ceased.
“They were never reimbursed and suffered a total financial loss of $610,382,” the police noted.
This is not the first time Nwabueze has faced similar allegations. Police records show that he was previously arrested in November 2023 by the same Peel Regional Police unit for orchestrating a comparable romance scam, defrauding a victim of more than $250,000.
“Nwabueze was arrested in November 2023 by the Peel Regional Police, where he used the exact same method of operation and defrauded another victim for over $250,000. That case is currently before the courts,” they noted.
Investigators believe Nwabueze is linked to a wider criminal network specifically targeting older adults through online dating sites. The scheme is suspected to exploit emotionally vulnerable individuals to extract large financial sums under the guise of romantic involvement.
“Fraud investigators believe that there are potentially more victims, and Nwabueze is part of a larger criminal network that is targeting older adult dating websites for the purpose of exploiting its trusting or vulnerable clientele for the purpose of committing fraud.”
Members of the public who may have relevant information have been urged to contact the Fraud Bureau directly or submit anonymous tips through Peel Crime Stoppers or the official police website.