"Model arrested in Lagos by police for romance scam, accused of swindling German man of $220,000 with promise of marriage"

 

The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) located in Ikoyi, Lagos, has apprehended a female suspect for allegedly defrauding a 50-year-old German national of $220,000 with the promise of marriage. SP Eyitayo Johnson, the unit's spokesperson, verified the arrest in a statement released on April 19, 2023. The suspect, identified as Miss Atuonah Cynthia Chioma, was reported to have enticed the victim on Instagram by falsely professing romantic feelings for him and assuring him of her intention to marry him.

Chioma, a 21-year-old graduate of Economics from Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, and self-proclaimed model and owner of a massage spa named The-Chi-Place, obtained the victim's trust and confidence by convincing him to move permanently to Nigeria to live with her. She allegedly persuaded him to sell his house in Stuttgart, Germany, and forward the proceeds of the sale, along with his pension and life savings, to her bank account to purchase a home in Nigeria, where they could start a joint business and live as a married couple.

In an attempt to allay any suspicion, Chioma took the victim to meet her parents in Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, where they gave their blessings to the marriage. During questioning, the suspect disclosed that she received the $220,000 transferred to her account by the victim. A portion of the proceeds was used to purchase a 2-bedroom terrace apartment in Zara Estate, Ikota Villa, Lekki Phase II, while the remainder was employed to support her mother's business and pay for her father's medical expenses. The authorities are working to recover the stolen funds, and the suspect will be arraigned in court once the inquiry is complete. The unit remains dedicated to the prosecution of scammers who tarnish the country's reputation.