A 21-year-old Nigerian woman, Cynthia Chioma Atuonah, was apprehended by the Police Special Fraud Unit in Ikoyi, Lagos for allegedly defrauding a 50-year-old German man of $220,000. Atuonah, who claimed to be a model and owned a massage spa called The-Chi-Place, reportedly enticed the victim on Instagram by pretending to have romantic feelings for him, thereby gaining his trust and confidence.
According to Superintendent Johnson of the Police Special Fraud Unit, "Miss Atuonah Chioma promised to marry the victim, invited him to Nigeria for visits on several occasions, and convinced him to relocate permanently to Nigeria to live together as husband and wife." To dispel any doubts, Atuonah arranged for the victim to meet her parents in Ikot-Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, who gave their blessing for the marriage.
Subsequently, Atuonah convinced the victim to sell his house in Stuttgart, Germany, and transfer the proceeds of the sale, along with his pension and life savings, to her domiciliary account at Fidelity Bank. The funds were allegedly intended for the purchase of a house in Nigeria where they would both live as a couple and start a joint business venture, as stated in the bank transfer description. A portion of the money was used to purchase a two-bedroom terrace apartment in Zara Estate, Ikota Villa, Lekki Phase II, while the rest was purportedly utilized to support Atuonah's mother's business and pay her father's medical bills.
The Police Special Fraud Unit is currently working to recover any remaining proceeds of the crime, and is committed to investigating and prosecuting fraudsters who tarnish the image of the country. Atuonah will be charged in court once the investigation is concluded.
