Seven people targeted in romance fraud lose a combined $1.5 million: police

Toronto: York Regional Police say at least seven people have been bilked out of a total of $1.5 million in connection with a “romance fraud” investigation that began last summer.
In July 2014, the police service’s major fraud unit was approached by a woman who said that she had been the victim of fraud. The information from the victim led police to uncover an “organized, criminal network” that targeted women on dating websites.
Police later found six more victims who said they too had been the victims of fraud under similar circumstances. There were also a number of women who came forward that said the suspects unsuccessfully attempted to defraud them.
Police say the suspects created false dating profiles and used a number of tactics to build trust and a relationship with the victims. The requests for money would often start out small, victims said.
“These relationships often progress very quickly to an emotional point where the victim is so invested in the relationship that they feel compelled to help when the suspect begins to ask for money,” York Regional Police said in a news release issued Tuesday.
According to investigators, the suspects were targeting women on various dating websites using the names Benjamin D. Baker and Ryan Hull.
Police say Toronto residents Akinola Adebayo, 44, George Dokwugbo, 42, Radford Ettienne, 40, Curtis Laing, 53, Juliana Nabutuwa, 24, Obi Okolichi, 44, Daphne Jalloh, 34, Ibrahim Bangura, 53, and Mississauga resident Richard Charite, 57, are facing a combined total of 40 charges including conspiracy, fraud over $5,000, laundering proceeds of crime, possession of property obtained by crime, and possession of instrument for forging or falsifying credit cards.
Police say they believe there may be more victims and are asking anyone with information to call 1-866-876-5423, ext.2778 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.