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According to Peel Regional Police, the suspect manipulated victims between June 2021 and July 2023 by pretending to own an oil rig in the Middle East. He convinced them he needed urgent funds and promised to repay the money and meet in person — a meeting that never happened.
The victims, who never physically met Nwabueze, believed they were in a real relationship. After sending funds totaling $610,382, Nwabueze abruptly cut off all communication, leaving them emotionally and financially devastated.
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Nwabueze has been charged with fraud over $5,000, laundering proceeds of crime, and uttering forged documents. He was released on an undertaking and is expected to appear in court in Brampton, Ontario.
Investigators believe he may be part of a larger fraud network preying on vulnerable individuals through older adult dating platforms. Notably, he was previously arrested in 2023 in a separate romance scam worth over $250,000.
The case underscores a rising trend of cross-border cybercrimes and the urgent need for stricter measures to protect online users from romance frauds.