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Romance Scammers Pretending To Be Engineers Con North Carolina Women Out Of Thousands, FBI says
Paul Edward was a civil engineer from Ireland with a teenage daughter, according to his dating profile.
He’d just moved to South Africa for a building project when a worker was hurt on the job. Suddenly he was financially responsible and needed cash — now.
That’s the story at least two men in Georgia are accused of telling a woman they met on Chemistry.com, an online dating website and the sister site to Match.com.
Georgia Man Arrested for Multi-Million Dollar Conspiracy to Launder Romance Scam Proceeds
Scams Targeted Victims in the Eastern District of North Carolina
A Smyrna, Georgia man was arrested and had his first appearance in federal court in Atlanta today on charges of laundering the proceeds of romance scams that targeted victims in the Eastern District of North Carolina and throughout the United States.
According to court documents, Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule, a/k/a “Dare,” opened, maintained, and controlled multiple bank accounts, referred to as “drop accounts,” that were used to receive, move, and obscure criminal proceeds, including funds derived from romance scams. A romance scam refers to a type of scheme in which scammers create fake profiles on Internet dating sites for the purpose of identifying victims, forming fraudulent romantic relationships with them, and then exploiting them for profit. According to the allegations in the indictment, co-defendant Samuel Ugberaese, a/k/a “Putsammy,” a Nigerian national, and his co-conspirators used romance scam techniques, including false stories and promises, as a means to defraud victims into transferring money on their behalf. It is alleged that Kolaogunbule conspired with Ugberaese to conduct financial transactions through his bank accounts, including accounts registered to purported Georgia export companies, in order to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the criminal proceeds. The indictment seeks a forfeiture money judgment in the amount of at least $2,367,520 related to the schemes.
An arrest warrant was also issued for his alleged co-conspirator, Samuel Ugberaese, who goes by “Putsammy.”
Ugberaese is a citizen of Nigeria who entered the U.S. on a tourist visa in 2014, according to court documents. He lived in Atlanta until the visa was canceled in 2016.
Kolaogunbule is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces a maximum penalty of 240 months in prison if convicted.
“Romance scams are among the most prolific and despicable crimes of the digital age. Con artists outside of our borders stalk Internet dating websites for the sole purpose of taking advantage of individuals looking for companionship,” stated United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. “They make false promises of love, but the victims—many of whom are older Americans—find only emotional and financial devastation. The losses associated with these crimes is staggering; according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, romance scams produce greater reported financial losses when compared to other online crimes. In 2019 alone, romance scams generated reported losses in excess of $475 million. In order to move these criminal proceeds in and out of our financial system, the scammers often rely on domestic money launderers to help them avoid detection and maximize their profits. Disrupting these criminal networks and vindicating the rights of victims to see justice, with targeted investigations and prosecutions, will be continue to be a top priority for my office.”
“It takes a heartless person to prey on lonely, elderly people. Some of these victims were essentially robbed of their life savings so these conspirators could profit. The FBI and our law enforcement partners are focused on holding offenders accountable who rip off our senior citizens,” said Robert R. Wells, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Charlotte.
One of the women they allegedly scammed is from Charleston County, South Carolina. Two others live in Wake County, North Carolina, according to an indictment unsealed Wednesday.
The men used the names “Paul Edward,” “Michael Alex” and “Timothy Greene” to lure unwitting women on Chemistry.com and Match.com, prosecutors said in court documents. They often sent the same photograph while pretending to be different men — usually an engineer who recently accepted a job overseas, according to the indictment.
Once they professed a romantic interest, they asked for money.
A woman in Wake County reportedly wired $10,000 to an account Kolaogunbule controlled through his export company, which prosecutors said was used to hide money from the scam.
The alleged scheme continued from 2014 to 2018 and involved at least nine bank accounts controlled by Kolaogunbule and his export and logistics companies. Prosecutors have asked him to forfeit at least $2.3 million related to the romance scam, court documents show.
Kolaogunbule faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, prosecutors said.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Charlotte Field Office, investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam F. Hulbig is prosecuting the case.
Related court documents and information are located on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:21-CR-27-BO.
TAGS: SCARS, Information About Scams, Anti-Scam, Scams, Scammers, Fraudsters, Cybercrime, Crybercriminals, Romance Scams, Scam Victims, Online Fraud, Online Crime Is Real Crime, Scam Avoidance, Samuel Ugberaese, Romance Scammers, Pretending To Be Engineers, South Africa, Nigerian Scammers, Chemistry.com, Match.com, Multi-Million Dollar Conspiracy, Launder Romance Scam Proceeds, Georgia Man, Oluwadamilare Kolaogunbule
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A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
SCARS Institute articles examine different aspects of the scam victim experience, as well as those who may have been secondary victims. This work focuses on understanding victimization through the science of victimology, including common psychological and behavioral responses. The purpose is to help victims and survivors understand why these crimes occurred, reduce shame and self-blame, strengthen recovery programs and victim opportunities, and lower the risk of future victimization.
At times, these discussions may sound uncomfortable, overwhelming, or may be mistaken for blame. They are not. Scam victims are never blamed. Our goal is to explain the mechanisms of deception and the human responses that scammers exploit, and the processes that occur after the scam ends, so victims can better understand what happened to them and why it felt convincing at the time, and what the path looks like going forward.
Articles that address the psychology, neurology, physiology, and other characteristics of scams and the victim experience recognize that all people share cognitive and emotional traits that can be manipulated under the right conditions. These characteristics are not flaws. They are normal human functions that criminals deliberately exploit. Victims typically have little awareness of these mechanisms while a scam is unfolding and a very limited ability to control them. Awareness often comes only after the harm has occurred.
By explaining these processes, these articles help victims make sense of their experiences, understand common post-scam reactions, and identify ways to protect themselves moving forward. This knowledge supports recovery by replacing confusion and self-blame with clarity, context, and self-compassion.
Additional educational material on these topics is available at ScamPsychology.org – ScamsNOW.com and other SCARS Institute websites.
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
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