AUTHORITIES DESCRIBE HOW A 21-YEAR-OLD GIRL DEFRAUDED A GERMAN OF N101 MILLION

Cynthia Atuonah, 21, was detained by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Ikoyi, Lagos, for a romance scam in which she allegedly defrauded a German of $220,000. (N101 million).

SP Eyitayo Johnson, a PSFU spokesperson, alleged in Lagos on Wednesday that the suspect, who purported to be a model and the owner of a massage facility called "The-Chi-Place," enticed the victim on Instagram.

"She promised to marry the victim, invited him to Nigeria for visits on several occasions and convinced him to emigrate to Nigeria so they could live together as husband and wife.

"In a ploy to dispel suspicion, the victim was made to meet with Atuonah's parents at Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom, where he received their blessings to marry the suspect.

"The suspect, a 2019 graduate of Economics of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, lured the 50-year-old victim on Instagram by feigning romantic intentions towards him, thereby gaining the victim's trust and goodwill.

"The suspect persuaded the victim to return to Germany to sell his house in Stuttgart and forward the proceeds of sale together with his pensions and life savings to her domiciliary account at Fidelity Bank Plc.

"The purpose of the money was to buy 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," he stated.

According to Johnson, the suspect admitted that the victim sent $220,000 to her account.

"She stated that a portion of the money were utilized to purchase a two-bedroom terrace flat at Zara Estate, Ikota Villa, Lekki Phase II."

"Some of the money was also used to support her mother's business and to pay the medical bills of her father, according to her," he stated.

Johnson also claimed that efforts are being made to retrieve other proceeds of crime.