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Romance Scam: Nigerian National Arrested in South Africa for Defrauding Woman of R3 Million
A Nigerian national has been arrested in South Africa for his involvement in an elaborate romance scam. The suspect, whose identity is yet to be disclosed, allegedly posed as a white man on Facebook, using a fake profile to lure his victim into a fraudulent relationship. The woman, believing she was in a legitimate romantic relationship, was swindled out of a staggering R3 million.
The suspect’s modus operandi followed a familiar pattern used by romance scammers: establishing trust through regular communication, sharing fabricated personal stories, and expressing false love and intentions to marry. Over time, the scammer convinced the victim to send large sums of money under various pretexts, such as fake medical emergencies and supposed investments. The victim, hoping to support her “partner,” transferred the funds without suspecting she was being deceived.
The arrest of the Nigerian national was made possible through the coordinated efforts of South African law enforcement agencies and cybercrime specialists, who had been tracking the suspect for months. Authorities uncovered the scheme after the victim reported the suspicious activities when she became aware of the deceit.
Romance scams, especially on social media platforms like Facebook, have been on the rise, with scammers targeting vulnerable individuals seeking companionship. In response to this growing threat, South African authorities have intensified efforts to clamp down on such fraudulent activities, urging citizens to exercise caution while engaging with individuals online.
The suspect is currently in police custody, facing charges of fraud and cybercrime. Law enforcement agencies are hopeful that this arrest will serve as a warning to others involved in similar schemes.
TV anchor Rufai Oseni makes headlines as he speaks on fuel subsidy in Nigeria. He shared that Nigeria can have fuel subsidy without the long queues at filling stations.
“When we were still paying subsidies, there were no long queues. We were subsidising. So you can still have a subsidy regime going on, and there will be no long queues because production was close by. Dangote had it. That’s just it. That argument also falls flat.
“The biggest beneficiaries of subsidy are not Nigerians. They are crony capitalists that have big infrastructure, and they do contracts. They have been the biggest beneficiaries of the subsidy,” he said.
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, speaks to those in the electricity sector about the usual blackouts in the state.
He speaks on ways things can change in the state and how electricity can be provided.
“We need to drop corporate egos, abandon long-standing excuses, and confront the harsh realities obstructing progress in the power sector.”
“We, state governments, used to give excuses that everything is centralised, so the Federal Government has unbundled it now. What have we done in a year and a half?” Sanwo-Olu asked.
“We take two steps forward, we go five steps backward,” he said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day for public servants in the state to mark the Isese Festival.
Speaking on the celebration, he said “Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
He added “When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
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