US husband, wife admit they stole over RM21mil in online romance scam

After striking up relationships, Inalegwu and Mathieu asked the victims to send money to them or their associates for made-up emergencies during a scam that ran from October 2016 to May 2020, federal prosecutors said. — Photo by Alexander Sinn on Unsplash

A married couple who previously lived in New Jersey admitted they stole at least US$4.5mil (RM21.37mil) from more than 100 victims in an online romance scam that lasted for more than three years.

Former Maple Shade resident Martins Friday Inalegwu, 35, and his wife Steincy Mathieu, 27, met their victims by using online dating and social media websites and later had contact with victims by email and phone to pave the way for the fraud, the US Attorney’s Office for New Jersey said.