On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, SP Eyitayo Johnson, the unit’s spokeswoman, reported the arrest in a statement. She claimed that the defendant tricked the victim on Instagram by feigning affection for him and putting forward a false marriage proposal.
“The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, have arrested one Miss Atuonah Cynthia Chioma, a 21-years old indigene of Anambra State for an alleged case of Fraudulent Conversion, Stealing and Obtaining the sum of Two-Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars ($220,000USD) by False Pretence from a German citizen.
The suspect, a 2019 graduate of Economics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka; who claimed to be a Model and Proprietress of a Massage Spa known as The-Chi-Place, lured the 50-year-old victim on Instagram by feigning romantic intentions towards him, thereby gaining the victims’ trust and goodwill,”
The victim was persuaded to move permanently to Nigeria so that they could live together as husband and wife by Miss Atuonah Chioma, who made the victim a marriage proposal and extended numerous invitations for visits.
The victim was forced to meet with Atuonah Chiomas’ parents in Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, in an effort to allay suspicions. There, he gained their approval to marry their daughter.
The suspect (Miss Atuonah Cynthia) convinced the victim to travel back to Germany in order to sell his house in Stuttgart and send the proceeds, along with his pension and life savings, to her domiciliary account in a bank. This was done with the intention of buying a house in Nigeria where they would live as husband and wife and to establish a joint business venture, as stated in the bank transfer narration.
The suspect acknowledged in her statement that the victim transferred the amount of $220,000 to her account during the interview session.
A portion of the money was subsequently used to purchase a 2-Bedroom Terrace condominium at Zara Estate, Ikota Villa, Lekki Phase II, while another portion was used to maintain her mother’s business and cover her father’s medical expenses.
While the Unit is committed to carefully investigating and prosecuting fraudsters who are out there harming the reputation of the country, efforts are still being made to recover additional proceeds of the crime.
The moment the investigation is over, the suspect will be charged in court.
The Post ‘Police in Lagos detain a 21-year-old model for scamming $220,000 from a German guy after pledging to marry him’ initially appeared on reubenabati
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