Applicant posing as American dupes Dutch lady N42.6m

A 31-year-old Nigerian, posing as 41-year-old American, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC defrauding a 75-year-old woman via internet.

According to the EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, the suspect, Adio Opeyemi Michael has defrauded the woman, Jeanet De Jonge, a Dutch national, to the tune of 200,000 euros, which is equivalent to N42.6 million.

Adio, who graduated from Yaba College of Technology in 2007, with an OND certificate in Business Administration, has been searching for job, all to no avail.

He had however told the victim, while they were chatting, that he was chef, working in a restaurant in Nigeria. Operatives are suspecting that Adio has been defrauding other victims through similar front.

According to Adio, he met the victim on the ‘Net log’ dating site and pretended to be a 41-year-old American citizen, working as a chef in a Nigerian restaurant and needs a wife.

The profile attracted Jeanet and, in no time. They connected and soon chatting. They become so closed that she began sending Adio money via Western Union and Money Gram.

Adio explained:  “She was sending me money monthly, ranging from $800 to $900 from June 2012, through Western Union Money transfer and Money Gram to the extent that Western Union blocked her from sending money to me in Nigeria.  She requested that I should go to London to enable her send me money there. I contacted a friend of mine in London called Osas Odiah, so that he could receive the money and send to me here in Nigeria.

“She first sent €2000 to my friend’s account in London, and later to my Keystone bank account, which was actually a Forex Trade account. We started using this account when we discovered that my friend was not remitting all the money sent by Jeanet to me.” 

Uwujaren said: “Investigations further revealed that the suspect collected the various sums under the pretext that he was going to use the money to perfect his travel plans and obtain the required documents that would enable him travel to Holland to join or visit Jeanet. But his inability or refusal to honour the invitation from Jeanet prompted the petition to EFCC.  The suspect will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is concluded.”