A 28-year-old Nigerian man living in Toronto, Chimezie Nwabueze, has been arrested and charged by Canadian authorities over an alleged online romance scam that cost two victims over $610,000.
According to a statement from Peel Regional Police, the scam took place between June 2021 and July 2023.
During that period, the victims believed they were involved in a genuine romantic relationship with Nwabueze, whom they had met on a dating platform.
The suspect reportedly posed as the owner of an oil rig operating in the Middle East and convinced the victims to send him large sums of money under the pretense of urgent financial needs, with promises of reimbursement and a future in-person meeting.
However, the victims never met Nwabueze in real life and only communicated with him electronically.
Police stated that once the victims began questioning him, Nwabueze severed all contact and failed to return the money, which totaled $610,382.
On April 28, authorities charged Nwabueze with several offenses, including one count each of uttering forged documents, laundering proceeds of crime, participating in a criminal organization, and instructing the commission of a criminal offense.
He also faced two counts each of fraud over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime.
He has since been released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.
Investigators believed Nwabueze may be connected to a broader criminal network that targets older adults through online dating platforms.
Police suspect there could be more victims and are urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
This isn’t the first case involving the suspect. In November 2023, Nwabueze was previously arrested by the same police department for allegedly defrauding another victim of more than $250,000 using a similar method.
That case is still pending in court.
