Fraudsters stole US$4.5mil in online romance scam, US officials say

Inalegwu, Mathieu and Alexander, along with multiple coconspirators, allegedly contacted more than 100 users across the US on dating and social media websites between 2016 and 2020, using fake personas and pretending to develop romantic relationships with them, according to court documents. — TNS

Four people, including a New Jersey man and a couple who formerly lived in New Jersey, have been indicted in a US$4.5mil (RM19.80mil) Internet romance scam, US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.

Martins Inalegwu, 34, of Philadelphia, and Steincy Mathieu, 26, of Brooklyn, New York, who used to reside in Burlington County, along with Nigerian national Moses Chukwuebuka Alexander, were indicted on April 6 on various charges including wire fraud, mail fraud and money laundering, prosecutors said.