21-year-old lady arrested for defrauding German man of $220,000 in fake marriage scam

The Police Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi, Lagos has arrested a 21-year-old Nigerian lady identified as Cynthia Chioma Atuonah for allegedly deceiving a 50-year-old German man and defrauding him of $220,000 in a fake marriage engagement scam.

According to reports, Atuonah, who claimed to be a model and the owner of a massage spa known as The-Chi-Place, reportedly lured the victim through Instagram by feigning romantic intentions towards him, thereby gaining his trust and goodwill.

She allegedly engaged in a fraudulent scheme, pretending to be in a serious relationship with the victim and promising to marry him.

The victim, a 50-year-old German man, fell for Atuonah’s scam and reportedly sent her a total of $220,000 in multiple transactions.

It was later discovered that Atuonah’s promises of marriage and romantic gestures were all part of an elaborate scheme to defraud the victim.

The Police Special Fraud Unit acted on a complaint lodged by the victim, and Atuonah was subsequently arrested.

During interrogation, she reportedly confessed to the crime and admitted to deceiving the victim with a fake marriage engagement

Johnson, a Superintendent of Police, further said:

“Miss Atuonah Chioma promised to marry the victim, invited him to Nigeria for visits on several occasions, and convinced him to relocate permanently to Nigeria to live together as husband and wife.

“In a ploy to dispel suspicion, the victim was made to meet with Atuonah Chiomas’ parents at Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State where he received their blessings to marry their daughter.

“The victim was persuaded by the suspect to return to Germany to sell his house in Stuttgart, and forward the proceeds of the sale, together with his pension and life savings to her domiciliary account in Fidelity Bank plc; for the purpose of purchasing a house in Nigeria where they will both live as husband and wife as well as to establish a joint business outfit as indicated in the bank transfer narration.”

“Part of the procedure was then used to buy a two-Bedroom Terrace apartment at Zara Estate, Ikota Villa, Lekki Phase II, while some of the funds were sent to support her mother’s business and to pay the medical bills of her father.

“Efforts are ongoing to recover other proceeds of the crime while the Unit remains committed to diligently investigating and prosecuting fraudsters who are out there damaging the image of the country.

“The suspect will be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded.”