Toronto police have arrested 28-year-old Nigerian national Chimezie Nwabueze in connection with an elaborate romance scam that defrauded two victims of over $600,000. According to a statement released by Peel Regional Police, the victims believed they were in a genuine romantic relationship with Nwabueze between June 2021 and July 2023 after meeting him on an online dating platform.
Authorities say the accused posed as the owner of an oil rig in the Middle East, claiming he urgently needed financial help and promising to repay the money and meet the victims in person. The victims never met him physically and were strung along electronically, with total losses amounting to $610,382.
Once the victims began asking questions, Nwabueze allegedly cut off all communication and disappeared. He now faces multiple fraud-related charges, and the case highlights the growing threat of digital deception in online relationships.
⚖️ Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant about online romance scams and to report suspicious activities to law enforcement.