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RSN™ Scam News: Nigerian $878,000 Scammer Arrested In U.S.
Nigerian Man In Missouri Scammed Love Interests Out of $878K Before Arrest at KCI Airport
Source Riverfront Times
Ronayerin Ogolor, 49, Was Arrested On Friday At Kansas City International Airport
A Nigerian con artist living in Missouri scammed lovesick women and men he met on dating sites such as Christian Mingle with stories of sequestered gold, terrible luck, and even an imaginary daughter, according to Federal authorities.
Ronayerin Ogolor, 49, was arrested on Friday at Kansas City International Airport. – JACKSON COUNTY DETENTION CENTER
Kansas City resident Ronayerin Ogolor, 49, was part of what the FBI described as a “romance fraud scheme” that cost his victims nearly $900,000.
A Naturalized U.S. Citizen From Nigeria, He Was Arrested On Friday At Kansas City International Airport As He Prepared To Board A 3 P.M. Flight To Germany, Authorities Say.
Ogolor had lived in Missouri since at least 2013 and has been part of the wire and money laundering conspiracy the entire time, according to an affidavit.
The con took various forms but tended to follow a similar script. Ogolor and his unnamed accomplices are accused of trawling dating sites in search of victims. When someone took the bait, they often would be fooled into thinking they had met a widower who was working as some sort of a contractor — usually an offshore oil driller. The imaginary contractor invariably needed money to get home or pay fees on a pile of cash he promised to then share.
Thirteen victims are described in an FBI agent’s affidavit. They live in states across the country, as well as Canada and Europe. Ogolor and his conspirators often picked on the elderly, authorities say. The scammers seemed to particularly like Christian Mingle and Facebook but also used other sites.
In one case, an Indiana woman met a man on Facebook who went by “Lawrence Garrison,” supposedly a widower working on an oil rig off the coast of Louisiana. They talked online every day and even on the phone a couple of times. (Garrison spoke English with an accent and claimed he had been born in Denmark.)
In 2015, Garrison sent a picture of a $4 million check and said he would sign it over to the woman if only she would help him out with expenses until he could cash it. He needed money for customs and $500,000 to tow a drill head to Ohio. Later, he needed help paying his twelve-man drilling crew. In total, the woman wired about $450,000 to her needy friend.
About $46,000 was deposited directly into accounts controlled by Ogolor, the FBI says.
Each scam had a different alias and accompanying back story for needing money. There was the guy claiming to be “David Stasiak,” another oil rig worker who supposedly had $6 million in gold waiting in Qatar if only he could cover the import tax.
And then there was “Robert Williams,” who claimed to have been paid $2.6 million in cash for oil work in Saudi Arabia but needed $1,500 to pay his daughter’s boarding school tuition.
They were all scams, according to prosecutors for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
In one case, the conspirators hacked a business and posed as the company’s comptroller to persuade another employee to write a $250,000 check to an Arizona man whom the scammers had catfished through an online dating site.
The Arizona man was then supposed to deposit the money and wire portions of it to different accounts, including one that belonged to Ogolor, authorities say.
An Alabama woman sold her car to give money to a man she met on Christian Mingle. A Florida woman sold her house.
Federal agents learned on Friday that Ogolor had bought a plane ticket Frankfurt, Germany, the day before and was planning to fly out at 3 p.m., the affidavit says. Instead, agents intercepted him at the airport.
Ogolor Has Allegedly Defrauded His Victims Of $878,489 Since 2013, Authorities Say. He Is Facing Charges Of Conspiracy To Commit Wire Fraud.
In Another Story Claims Scammed More Than $4 Million
KC-area victims lost $4M to online ‘romance’ scheme, prosecutors say
Kansas City-area residents lost more than $4 million in what federal prosecutors allege was a scheme to romance, then rip off, people met online.
An indictment in the case alleges that 13 victims lost a total of more than $5 million during a two-year period.
Ronayerin K. Ogolor of Kansas City was arrested at Kansas City International Airport earlier this month as he sought to flee the country. The naturalized U.S. citizen from Nigeria was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
On Friday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Missouri made public an indictment of Henry N. Asomani, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Ghana, on wire fraud, money laundering and conspiracy counts.
In a release announcing charges against Asomani, prosecutors detailed how three Kansas City-area residents allegedly were victimized by the scheme:
• Authorities say a Lee’s Summit victim lost nearly $3.3 million after sending money to various entities at the direction of “Larry B. White.” The victim met “White” after setting up a profile on ChristianMingle.com after the death of her husband to brain cancer.
“White” allegedly persuaded the victim to invest in a Ghana gold mine and promised a 40 percent return. Prosecutors say $2.9 million of the money went to accounts controlled by Asomani.
• A Leawood victim sent $800,000 to “George Bill Parker” after meeting “Parker” on Facebook. The money was to go for gold-related expenses, and the victim was to be repaid with money or gold.
• A victim living in Kansas City met “Bradley Fischer” on ChristianMingle.com. “Fischer” persuaded the victim to send money for school, travel and to start a new life in Kansas City. Authorities say that of the $24,000 wired to Asomani’s bank account, the victim has been repaid $1,000.
In a release from the U.S. Attorney’s office at the time of Ogolor’s arrest, prosecutors also mentioned victims residing outside Missouri. Mentioned were an Indiana widow who lost $450,000 to what she thought was a widower working on an oil rig off the coast of Louisiana and a Texas victim who sent at least $300,000 to what she thought was a widowed U.S. Army general in Afghanistan.
RSN™ Team
a division of SCARS™
Miami Florida U.S.A.
END
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It is essential that law enforcement knows about scams & scammers, even though there is nothing (in most cases) that they can do.
Always report scams involving money lost or where you received money to:
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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.
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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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