The Canadian Police have arrested and arraigned a Nigerian, Mr Chimezie Nwabueze for after he allegedly swindled two people out of N964,338,295.80 ($600,000) in a romance scam lasting more than two years.
The Peel Regional Police said in a statement that Nwabueze, who lives in Toronto, was arrested on April 28.
According to the police, the two victims met the Nigerian online and “believed they were in a genuine romantic relationship” with him between June 2021 and July 2023.
Nwabueze said he urgently needed money for an “oil rig” he owned in the Middle East, according to investigators, adding that he promised a meeting and repayment.
He was said to have cut off communication with the victims when they confronted him, leaving the victims with a loss of $610,382.
“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 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, the police said.
Following his arrest, the suspect was arraigned before a Justice Court in Brampton on six-count offences bordering on money laundering, participation in crime and fraud.
However, he was granted bail on undertaking and would appear before the court at a later date.
Furthermore, the police said: “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.”
The statement recalled that Nwabueze had been arrested before for a similar fraud of about $250,000 in 2023, and the case was still ongoing in court.
According to the statement, the accused used the same method of operation to defraud the victim, adding that the case is currently before the courts.
Investigators believe there may be more victims and say the man is part of a criminal network that targets “older adult dating websites for the purpose of exploiting its trusting or vulnerable clientele.”
