He Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Thursday handed over a three-bedroom semi-detached duplex in edo state, South-south Nigeria, to an American named Cheryldene Cook, who was scammed by a Nigerian, Aisosa Ohue.
The property was recovered from Mr. Ohue, also known as Frederick Leonard, who has been convicted of internet fraud by a Nigerian court, according to a statement on Friday of the commission.
The convict had collected N104 million in 2021 from the American woman in a love scam while posing as a famous Nigerian actor. Federico Leonardo.
He had lied to her by telling her that he was in love with her and that he was going to marry her, according to the EFCC.
Apart from the house, which is located in Ward 36A of Amagba Community in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo, the EFCC also handed over N19 million, a Lexus E350 saloon, an iPhone 13 Pro Max and a Samsung phone A31 to the American at the EFCC. zonal office in Abuja.
The EFCC Zonal Commander, Adebayo Adeniyi, and Head of Advanced Tariff Fraud Section 1, Jimoh Rauf, made the presentation on behalf of the commission to Ms Cook, who flew from the US to receive the articles.
Cook, accompanied by her lawyer, Mike Nwosu, thanked the commission for the recovery, according to the EFCC statement.
Judge CE Nwecheonwu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Kuje, had in January ordered the confiscation of the house, money and other items after Mr Orhue was found guilty of obtaining money by false pretenses.
The EFCC has been clamping down on Nigerian fraudsters who amassed illegal fortunes by defrauding women, mostly foreigners, looking for love over the internet.
The commission in June arrested a young Nigerian, Ifechukwu Makwe, in Abuja, for allegedly swindling a Spanish woman out of 5.7 million euros after meeting on social media in 2013.
Makwe made his victim believe he was an agent of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation.
How to avoid being scammed
“Scammers will express intense emotions to you in a short period of time and advise you to disconnect your Internet connection and use it in a more private channel, such as phone, email or instant messaging. They often claim to be Australian or residents of another Western country, but in reality they are traveling or working in another country,” Nigerian law firm Olisa Ogbakoba Legal said on its website. website where it provides advice on how to avoid being scammed and what steps to take if you are a victim.
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“Scammers will do everything they can to pique your interest and gain your trust, including showering you with words of love, giving you ‘personal information’ and even giving you gifts. They may spend months cultivating what appears to be a lifelong romance and even pre-book airfare to visit you, but never arrive.”
The law firm advises Internet users to “conduct an online search to verify the person’s identity, including their name, photograph, location, email address and other information” when meeting people through dating sites or social networks.
“Never give money to a love interest online via wire transfer, gift card, or cash reload card. You’re not going to get it back,” he says.