A fraudster who posed as an American general serving in Afghanistan conned two women out of more than £300,000 in just six months in what detectives believe was a multi-million-pound global scam.
The conman used images of real-life US soldiers to befriend the women over Skype saying he wanted to move to the UK to marry them.
He posed as “General James Krulak” and “General James Raul” and persuaded them to help transfer his $8.5 million (£5.4 million) retirement fund — a “box of treasure” from a family in Afghanistan.
Yesterday Scotland Yard issued an appeal, saying it has identified two other possible victims of the fraudster but fears there may be many more women who have lost money.
Detectives from the Yard’s new FALCON cyber crime unit say they have uncovered evidence the con was part of a “sophisticated global network” preying on vulnerable women. Nigerian national Robinson Agbonifoayetan, 32, of Welling, is facing jail after pleading guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation at Isleworth crown court.
The court heard how the British victim, in her sixties and living in Ealing, was befriended by a man she believed to be a US general after he contacted her out of the blue on Skype.
The man insisted on speaking to her several times a day, paying her countless compliments and confiding in her about tragic family events, like his parents and sister dying in a car crash. Within days he talked of marrying her and introduced the idea of a box containing $8.5million, which he said he had been given by a family after he saved their lives serving in Afghanistan.
She also agreed to meet an delivery agent at a rail station who produced a United Nations diplomatic ID card bearing the name Christopher Williams, saying he came from St Lucia — though the card bore the flag of Belgium. Police say this was actually Agbonifoayetan, who was also the fake US general on Skype.
The victim used up her life savings, pawned jewellery, sold her car and took out loans to pay the spiralling costs before finally becoming suspicious and going to the police. Detectives arrested Agbonifoayetan at Heathrow airport on December 17 2014, as he tried to leave the country on a flight to Nigeria.
When police raided his family home in Welling they found a receipt book with details of a second victim in Devon. The woman, in her fifties, was sold a similar story by a “General James Raul” and handed over £22,000. Detectives are now seeking a compensation order to help the victims recoup some of the cash, which was sent to Ghana and Nigeria.
Detective Constable Nick Curtis, who led the inquiry, said: “We are coming across a number of cases of romance fraud. I urge anyone who thinks they may have been a victim to report it to police now.” For more scintillating and juicy stories, follow the official Naijapals accounts On Twitter - @Naijapals and Facebook - www.facebook.com/naijapals
I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist
Posted: at 6-08-2015 06:48 AM (9 years ago) | Addicted Hero
chealseafc at 6-08-2015 12:15 PM (9 years ago) (m)
i even think say na only IGBO dey spoil Nigeria name. so other tribes dey do bad thing sef?. me i think say them be saints oh!. but na the women fault sha, as old as they are, they want to marry 32 year old guy. mugu fall, guy man chop. but in this case, the hunter has become the hunted.
Posted: at 6-08-2015 12:15 PM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
steveoneal at 6-08-2015 04:25 PM (9 years ago) (m)
Quote from: chealseafc on 6-08-2015 12:15 PM
i even think say na only IGBO dey spoil Nigeria name. so other tribes dey do bad thing sef?. me i think say them be saints oh!. but na the women fault sha, as old as they are, they want to marry 32 year old guy. mugu fall, guy man chop. but in this case, the hunter has become the hunted.
Can you see how stupid you are to be dsplaying your stupidity openly here, i wonder if you ever did comprehension in your elementary school. simple passage put together in simple english you dont understand. 1, Then woman thought he was dating an elderly general. and not a 32 year old , . 2 , the guy isnt a yoruba , so what the heck is your dumb and dick head talking about,?? this naijapals don make lunatics dey follow normal people enter same taxi
Posted: at 6-08-2015 04:25 PM (9 years ago) | Gistmaniac
FU.CK THE WESTERNERS, ESPECIALLY THE BRITISH, U PEOPLE ARE SO GREEDY, I WILL NOT MERCY ANY OF U BRITISH WOMEN THAT WOULD FALL INTO MY TRAPS, LIFE GOES ON AND HUSTLING CONTINUES, GOOD LUCK TO ALL HUSTLERS ESPECIALLY THE ONES FROM AFRICA
Posted: at 6-08-2015 08:01 PM (9 years ago) | Upcoming
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