THE Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi, Lagos, has arrested a suspected female fraudster for allegedly defrauding a 50-year-old German national of $220,000, after promising to marry him.
The unit spokesperson, SP Eyitayo Johnson, who confirmed the arrest in a statement on Wednesday, 19 April 2023, said the suspect lured the victim on Instagram by allegedly feigning romantic intentions towards him.
Miss. Atuonah Chioma, 21, a 2019 graduate of Economics of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka; claimed to be a Model and proprietress of a massage spa known as The-Chi-Place, while feigning romantic intentions towards the victim, gained the victim’s trust and goodwill and with a promise to marry him, invited him to Nigeria for visits on several occasions and convinced him to relocate permanently to Nigeria to live together as husband and wife.
“In a ploy to dispel suspicion, the victim was made to meet with Atuonah Chiomas’ parents at Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State where he received their blessings to marry their daughter.
“The victim was persuaded by the suspect (Miss Atuonah Cynthia) to return to Germany to sell his house in Stuttgart, and forward the proceeds of the sale, together with his pension and life savings to her domiciliary bank account; to purchase a house in Nigeria where they will both live as husband and wife as well as to establish a joint business outfit as indicated in the bank transfer narration”.
The Police say during an interview session, the suspect admitted in her statement that the sum of Two Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars ($220,000.00) was transferred to her account by the victim.
“Part of the proceeds was then used to buy a two-bedroom Terrace apartment at Zara Estate, Ikota Villa, Lekki Phase II, while some of the funds were sent to support her mother’s business and to pay the medical bills of her father.
“Efforts are ongoing to recover other proceeds of the crime”, Police said.
Eighteen-Eleven Media