Nigerian living in Canada arraigned over alleged $600,000 romance scam of women he met on an online dating platform
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A Nigerian living in Canada, Chimezie Nwabueze, has been arraigned by police for alleged $600,000 romance scam of two women he met on an online dating platform.
A statement on the website of the Peel Regional Police said he was arrested on April 28 having allegedly lied to his victims that he owned an oil rig in the Middle East for which he needed money to fix somethings, with the promise of repayment.
“Between June 2021 and July 2023, two victims believed they were in a genuine romantic relationship with the suspect, whom they met through an online dating platform,” the statement narrated.
“The suspect fraudulently claimed to own an ‘Oil Rig’ in the Middle East and urgently needed money, promising repayment and an eventual meeting. The victims only communicated with him electronically and never met in person.
“After the victims confronted the suspect, he cut off all communication. They were never reimbursed and suffered a total financial loss of $610,382.
Nwabueze was arraigned before a court in Brampton on six-count offences involving money laundering, participation in crime, and fraud.
The statement added: “On Monday, April 28, 2025, Chimezie Nwabueze, a 28-year-old man from Toronto, was arrested and charged with the following criminal offences.
“Fraud Over $5000 X2, possession of property obtained by crime X2, utter forged documents, laundering proceeds of crime, participating in activities of a criminal organisation and instructing the commission of the offence for a criminal organisation.
“Nwabueze was released on an undertaking and will appear later before the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton.”
According to the police, Nwabueze had been arrested for a similar fraud involving about $250,000 in 2023, and the case is still ongoing in court.
“Fraud investigators believe that there are potentially more victims, and Nwabueze is part of a larger criminal network that is targeting older adult dating websites to exploit its trusting or vulnerable clientele to commit fraud.
“Nwabueze was arrested in November 2023 by the Peel Regional Police where he used the same method of operation and defrauded another victim for over $250,000.
“That case is currently before the courts.”
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