Chimezie Nwabueze, a 28-year-old Nigerian national residing in Toronto, is facing multiple felony charges following his arrest by Peel Regional Police (PRP). Authorities allege he orchestrated a sophisticated online romance scam, defrauding two victims of a staggering $610,382.
According to a statement from the PRP, the victims, contacted through an online dating service between June 2021 and July 2023, believed they were in genuine relationships with Nwabueze. The suspect, the statement explains, “fraudulently claimed to own an ‘Oil Rig’ in the Middle East and urgently needed money, promising repayment, and an eventual meeting.” Critically, the statement adds that “The victims only communicated with him electronically and never met in person.”
After the victims realized they had been defrauded and confronted Nwabueze, he ceased all communication, leaving them with substantial financial losses.
On April 28th, Nwabueze was formally charged with a range of offenses, including uttering forged documents, money laundering, participation in criminal organization activities, directing criminal organization offenses, two counts of fraud exceeding $5,000, and two counts of possessing criminally obtained property. While released on bail pending a future court appearance at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton, the investigation is ongoing.
PRP investigators suspect additional victims may exist and believe Nwabueze is connected to a broader criminal network preying on older adults through online dating platforms. In fact, Nwabueze was also arrested in November 2023 for employing the same fraudulent scheme to swindle another individual of over $250,000; that case is currently before the courts.
