The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU), Ikoyi-Lagos, has arrested 21-year-old Miss. Atuonah Cynthia Chioma, for allegedly hoodwinking a 50-year-old German with a fake marriage proposal and defrauding him $220,000USD.
The suspect, a 2019 graduate of Economics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, who claimed to be a Model and Proprietress of a Massage Spa known as The-Chi-Place, lured the 50-year-old victim on Instagram by feigning romantic intentions towards him, thereby gaining the victims’ trust and goodwill.
The PSFU spokesman, a Superintendent of Police, SP Eyitayo Johnson, said that the suspect will be charged with fraudulent conversion, stealing, and obtaining the sum of $220,000USD by false pretence.
Johnson further said: “Miss Atuonah Chioma promised to marry the victim, invited him to Nigeria for visits on several occasions and convinced him to relocate permanently to Nigeria to live together as husband and wife.
“In a ploy to dispel suspicion, the victim was made to meet with Atuonah Chiomas’ parents at Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State where he received their blessings to marry their daughter.
“The victim was persuaded by the suspect to return to Germany to sell his house in Stuttgart, and forward the proceeds of the sale, together with his pension and life savings to her domiciliary account in Fidelity Bank plc; for the purpose of purchasing a house in Nigeria where they will both live as husband and wife as well as to establish a joint business outfit as indicated in the bank transfer narration.”
According to the image maker, during interrogation, Atuonah admitted in her statement that the sum of $220,000USD was transferred to her account by the victim.
“Part of the proceed was used then used to buy a two-Bedroom Terrace apartment at Zara Estate, Ikota Villa, Lekki Phase II, while some of the funds was sent to support her mother’s business and to pay the medical bills of her father. Efforts are ongoing to recover other proceeds of the crime while the Unit remains committed to diligently investigating and prosecuting fraudsters who are out there damaging the image of the country. The suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded,” said Johnson.
