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Nigerian Dating Scammer Kazeem Owonla Arrested Kazeem Owonla Arrested In The U.S.
NEWS : Montana Attorney General Impersonator Arrested in Georgia
Kazeem Owonla Arrested After Impersonating Montana Attorney General In Online Dating Scam
A notorious Nigerian Scammer made the mistake of stealing the Montana Attorney General’s photo for his scams, and then visiting the U.S.
Gotcha You Bastard!!
Kazeem Owonla (a.k.a. John Tony Hagan)
Ex-Nigerian Dating Scammer!
According to Fox TV Montana:
MISSOULA –
A Nigerian man is arrested after impersonating Montana’s Attorney General in an online scam that spans across the country.
Authorities apprehended Kazeem Owonla, 44, Wednesday morning in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department detectives say an investigation revealed a woman from the Syracuse, Indiana, area wired a large sum of money to Owonla.
The suspect had reportedly used the alias name of “John Tony Hagan” during his contact over the internet.
He used a non-authorized photo of Montana Attorney General Tim Fox as his profile picture during conversations with the victim.
They say he is also suspected of scamming another woman in Ohio, and potentially a third.
Owonla is currently awaiting transportation back to Indiana, where he will be held on a $150,000 bond.
According to the Huffington Post:
Montana Attorney General’s Photo Used In Dating scam
A Nigerian resident faces charges that he set up an online dating profile using a photo of Montana’s attorney general and falsified stories about overseas business problems to scam several women.
Felony charges against Kazeem Owonla were filed last month in Indiana, where one woman reported sending more than $100,000 to a man who represented himself as John Tony Hagan, an electrical engineer who was working in Egypt.
Owonla, 44, was arrested Wednesday when he got off an airplane in Atlanta and waived extradition to Indiana Thursday during a hearing in Clayton County Magistrate Court. Clayton County records did not indicate if Owonla has an attorney.
His bond in Indiana is set at $150,000 cash, enough to cover the women’s losses, Kosciusko County prosecutors said.
The Indiana woman who first complained said she met “Hagan” online in January 2014 and by the next month he was asking her for money.
The woman said Hagen told her he needed money to replace his stolen tools. She said she sent him $5,600. The woman also responded to requests for $12,000 to pay his workers and for $25,000 to replace money that was supposedly stolen when his interpreter was stabbed after they made a bank withdrawal. In June, the woman provided investigators with receipts showing she wired or made bank transfers totaling more than $100,000 to the man she believed was Hagan, court records said.
“It got pretty intense fairly quickly,” the woman told WNDU-TV in July on the condition the station not use her name because she was embarrassed that she fell for the scam. “Lots of passion and attention.”
A deputy found the bank transfers from the woman were ending up in an account owned by Owonla, who was in the U.S. on a visitor’s visa last year.
The investigation also turned up a $1,550 bank transfer form an Ohio woman who told a similar story. She met a man online who identified himself as Henry Tesone, an electrical engineer in South Africa who was headed to Egypt to work. He also used stolen tools and other similar reasons to get the Ohio woman to send him a total of $11,590.
The deputy’s investigation turned up a third bank transfer of nearly $8,200 from a woman who may be another victim. He is still trying to locate her.
The photo used on the Hagan profile was taken from Montana Attorney General Tim Fox’s campaign website without his permission.
In August, Fox’s spokesman, John Barnes, said the attorney general was upset his image was used in the same. He noted the con artist chose the photo of someone who oversees consumer protection and warns citizens of scams.
Online Romance Scammer Kazeem Owonla’s Photo Album:
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If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
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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!
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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:
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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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