Police in Toronto, Canada have arrested and charged a 28-year-old Nigerian man Tile son’s son Allegedly defrauded two victims of more than $600,000 in online romantic scams.
Police said the man was in a “romantic relationship” with two victims he met on an online dating platform between June 2021 and July 2023.
“The suspect fraudulently claimed to have a ‘oil rig’ in the Middle East and was in urgent need of money, expected to repay and final meeting,” the Peel Regional Police (PRP) said in a press release on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Investigators said the victim communicated with the man only electronically and had never seen him in person.
They added that he obviously stopped all communication with the victim after confronting him.
“The victims never paid back the funds, totaling $610,382,” PRP said.
Chimezie Nwabueze, 28, of Toronto, was arrested on Monday and charged with one charge of forging documents, proceeds of money laundering, participating in the activities of the criminal organization and guiding the criminal organization, as well as two counts of fraud and more than $5,000 and possession of property obtained from the crime.
Nwabueze was released, promising to appear in Brampton Court at a later date.
Investigators from the PRP Fraud Bureau believe there may be more victims, alleging that the defendants are “part of a larger criminal network for dating sites for seniors to commit fraud in order to exploit their trust or vulnerable customers.”
Police noted that Nwabueze was previously arrested by PRP for using “exactly the same method of operation”. In the current situation before the court, he allegedly deceived another victim who had more than $250,000
The investigation is underway and police have asked anyone with more information to contact the PRP’s fraud bureau.
