Nigerian man posing as ‘Oil Rig’ owner arrested in Canada for defrauding women of $600,000
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Police in Toronto, Canada, have arrested and charged a 28-year-old Nigerian citizen, Chimezie Nwabueze, with the fraud of two victims in an online romance scam in access of $600,000.
As alleged, between June 2021 and July 2023, the suspect was in a “romantic relationship” with the couple he met on an online dating platform.
In a release issued by the Peel Regional Police (PRP) on Friday, May 2, 2025, investigators say, “The suspect fraudulently claimed to own an ‘Oil Rig’ in the Middle East and urgently needed money, promising repayment and an eventual meeting.”
However, investigators also found that the victims had no face-to-face interaction with the man and communicated with him only through electronic means. They added he had evidently cut off all communication with the victims after they confronted him. PRP said, “The victims were never reimbursed for the funds, which totalled $610,382.”
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Chimezie Nwabueze, 28, of Toronto, was arrested on Monday, and charged with one count each of uttering forged documents, laundering proceeds of crime, participating in activities of a criminal organization, and instructing commission of offence for criminal organization, and two counts each of fraud over $5,000 and possessing property obtained by crime.
Nwabueze was released on the promise to appear in court in Brampton on another date.
Members of the Fraud Bureau of PRP have reason to believe that there may be other victims and allege that this accused is “part of a larger criminal network that is targeting older adult”dating websites with the intent to defraud their trusting or vulnerable clientele for purposes of defrauding them.”
Police reported that Nwabueze had been arrested in November 2023 by PRP for a similar modus operandi.
The case, which is stringently in the courts, has him allegedly defrauding yet another victim in excess of $250,000.
The investigation is ongoing, and the police have requested that anyone with further information contact the PRP’s Fraud Bureau.
Associated with dating websites, with the intent to exploit their clients
Nwabueze, police note, was arrested earlier in November 2023 by PRP for using the “same method of operation exactly,” in a case currently in the courts where he allegedly defrauded another victim of more than $250,000.
Investigations are still ongoing, and anyone with relevant information is advised to contact the Fraud Bureau of PRP.
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