A group of five men who used fake dating profiles to defraud their victims out of millions-of-pounds have today been jailed
A victim has said she was left “embarrassed and ashamed” after she lost her home following an online dating scam. A group of five men who used fake dating profiles to defraud their victims out of millions-of-pounds have today (Tuesday, September 30) been jailed.
The men created fake profiles and fictional biographies on dating websites to trick the victims, using flirtatious language to manipulate people into thinking they were in a genuine loving relationship. They managed to trick 40 confirmed victims of the scam out of an estimated £1.8 million pound, although the suspected number of victims is as high as 99.
Police said extracts from victims’ statements were read out in court with one stating: “I lost my home as I could not keep up with the cost of rising bills. I feel so embarrassed and ashamed that I was scammed, so I have not told anyone about this and have lied to my family and friends. I am very wary when any man tries to get close to me as I always wonder if he will try and scam me.”
The relationships formed in similar ways, with contact beginning on dating websites before moving to WhatsApp, with occasional video or voice calls but no in-person meetings, Surrey Police said. The relationships would then develop into declarations of love and commitment, but with a business transaction to be completed before any meeting could take place.
Men would ‘coerce and control’ their victims
The fraudsters tricked their victims, who were mainly female, into sending money which they promised to pay back with interest once a lucrative business venture was completed, police said. They would also request money for other apparent emergencies including the loss of a wallet or legal bills which had to be paid before the individual could return to the UK.
These requests were often supported by false documents, passports, legal letters and photographs. The group would also coerce and control their victims through exploiting their vulnerabilities, the force added. Victims sent money to the men’s bank accounts or in cash through the post with the fraud being repeated many times until they had no money left or became suspicious, stopped making payments and alerted the authorities, the CPS said.
Fawaz Ali, 27, Ebenezer Tackie, 42, Michael Quartey, 28, Kwabena Edusei, 37, and George Melseaux, 40, were all sentenced on Tuesday at Guildford Crown Court for their roles in the scheme.
The majority of transactions took place in the UK, with some overseas victims identified throughout Europe, the US and Australia, police said. Those managing the false identities then used a network of individuals running multiple bank accounts to launder the proceeds of the romance fraud and other forms of criminality.
Edusei, 37, from East Finchley, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud in relation to operating at least one of the false identities and was later found guilty of operating a further three false identities. He also pleaded guilty to money laundering the proceeds of romance fraud, making articles for use in fraud and possession of identification documents for improper use and was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in prison, police said.
Melseaux, 41, from Hounslow, pleaded guilty to money laundering in relation to receiving money directly from romance fraud victims and through other members of the organised crime group and was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.
Ali, from London, was found guilty of one count of money laundering in relation to receiving money from a romance fraud victim and one count of money laundering of hundreds of thousands of pounds from other forms of fraudulent activity following a trial at Guildford Crown Court. The 27-year-old was sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison.
Following the same trial, Quartey, 38, from London, and Tackie, 42, from Alton, were found guilty of two counts of money laundering each in relation to receiving money directly from romance fraud victims through other members of the organised crime group. Quartey was jailed for five years and six months, and Tackie for four years and six months, police said.
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