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SCARS™ Scam News: Suspected Nigerian Internet Fraudsters Remanded in Prison for $1Million Fraud
Oghenekevwe Innocent Akinnawo (a.k.a Rodriguez Filiberto, Richard Welburn and Scott Mendez)
From Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
Justice Mohammed Sanni of the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has remanded a suspected fraudster, Oghenekevwe Innocent Akinnawo (a.k.a Rodriguez Filiberto, Richard Welburn and Scott Mendez) in prison custody, following his arraignment on Thursday , March 7, 2019 on a seven-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence to the tune of $1, 138,000( One Million One Hundred and Thirty Eight Million Dollars)only.
Akinnawo ran into troubles when he was arrested by operatives of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Port Harcourt’s Zonal Office on alleged fraudulent activities ranging from love scam on numerous dating sites, obtaining money by false pretences and swindling two Americans: Lucille De Mattos and Patricia Hawks on a phony oil shipment deal.
He was docked on the basis of investigation activities that implicated him.
Count One of the charge read: That you Oghenekewe Innocent Akinnawo, ( aka Rodriguez Filiberto, Richard Welburn and Scott Mendez) and Theresa Thornton ( at large) sometimes in February in 2018 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to do an unlawful act to wit: obtain money under false pretence from one Lucille De Mattos, an American citizen and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) and punishable under Section 1( 3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Count Two read: “That you Oghenekewe Innocent Akinnawo, ( aka Rodriguez Filiberto, Welburn and Scott Mendez and Theresa Thornton ( at large) sometimes in February in 2018 at Port Harcourt within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did obtain the the sum of $1,030,000 (One Million and Thirty Thousand Dollars) only from one Lucille De Mattos, an American citizen under the false pretence that the sum was an investment and which pretense you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1( 1) (a) and punishable under Section 1( 3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006”.
The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when read to him.
Prosecution counsel, A. Arogbha told the court that he was ready for trial and prayed for a trial date. However, defense counsel, Reuben Wanogho made an application for bail but could not be heard because Arogbha told the court that he was served the application late and needed time to respond to it.
Justice Sanni thereafter adjourned the matter to March 13, 2019, for the hearing of bail application and remanded the defendant in prison custody.
He also adjourned commencement of trial to April 8 and 11, 2019.
SCARS™ Team
A SCARS Division
Miami Florida U.S.A.
TAGS: Nigerian Scammer, Scammer Arrested, Sent To Jail, Nigerian Court, EFCC, Romance Scammer, Fraudster,
END
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Always report scams involving money lost or where you received money to:
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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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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
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
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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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