For anyone searching for companionship, the quest for love can lead to online dating platforms or casual messages with an attractive stranger on a social platform. The possibility of finding a meaningful connection online can fill anyone with excitement. However, by engaging with unfamiliar connections online, they run the risk of becoming a victim of Nigerian Romance Scams.
As the name implies, Nigerian Romance Scams are cases of romance scams conducted by individuals from Nigeria or Nigerian immigrants. Unlike romance scams from countries like the Philippines, Russia, or the Dominican Republic, romance scams originating from Nigeria have a distinct design. They include defined targets, methods for creating immediate connection, and devastating tactics that ensure scammers can extort their victims for thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars.
How Nigerian Romance Scams Work
These specific romance scams begin with a fake profile. A Nigerian scammer will create one or multiple profiles featuring images of attractive men and women, which they use to join various social media and dating applications.
These profiles are tailored with backstories that may describe a single parent in a demanding career that requires long periods away from home. This could include someone deployed as an active military servicemen. Other popular careers for these fake profiles are those in a a well-paying profession that requires long periods of travel like a physician or engineer on an oil rig.
Once the scammer has secured a connection with a potential target, the next step is “love bombing.” In this phase, the criminal sends frequent, affectionate messages to foster a sense of intimacy. Many victims of romance scams report that their communications accelerated rapidly, with the scammer getting them to say “I love you” in just a matter of days.
Finally, after a few days, weeks, or months, the scammer will make a request for money, often presenting an urgent need for funds. This could be for emergency medical bills, car repairs, or home maintenance.
To educate clients about romance scams, the Digital Forensics Corp. team uses the acronym F.A.S.T. as a checklist. Each letter represents a key characteristic commonly found in these scams:
- Fake: The scammer pretends to be an attractive individual or a celebrity, impersonating someone they believe the victim will trust.
- Assure: They assure the victim of their love and claim that the money they request is needed to build a future together.
- Stress: The scammer explains that they are facing a stressful situation and urgently need money to resolve it.
- Transfer: They ask the victim to transfer money through methods that are hard to dispute, such as wire transfers, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or other digital payment methods that give the scammer immediate access to the funds.
What Makes Nigerian Romance Scams So Effective?
What makes these Nigerian Romance Scams so effective—and dangerous—is that they are often well-researched and tailored to exploit the vulnerabilities of individual victims. These scammers don’t just send out generic messages; they take steps to build trust over time.
For example, scammers may send gifts or deliveries based on conversations with the victim, select profile pictures that resemble the victim’s former spouse, or use other strategies to make their fake profile appear authentic. This makes the victim more likely to believe they are in a real relationship with a real person.
But it’s all part of a calculated effort to create comfort and connection before requesting money. These requests can vary in size, from large lump sum payments for medical emergencies to smaller amounts claimed to be necessary for the scammer to save for a trip to meet the victim in person.
The lies are designed to be convincing, earning the victim’s trust and fostering real feelings of love. This works so well that, in October 2024, the Federal Trade Commission reported $1.9 billion in losses to fraud categorized as romance scams(1).
Who are the most vulnerable to Nigerian Romance Scams?
Based on reports from the FBI, FTC, and Digital Forensics Corp.(2), the majority of romance scam victims are women, particularly those over the age of 50.
Among these victims, we found substantial evidence that Nigerian scammers often choose targets based on perceived vulnerability. This vulnerability could include older women who have lost a spouse or individuals who have shared information about personal hardships, disabilities, or emotional struggles.
By exploiting these vulnerabilities, scammers create enough trust to request money, often giving a compelling story to justify why such a large sum is needed and why it must be paid using digital currency or a payment app.
By pushing the right emotional buttons, scammers are able to manipulate victims, build a false relationship, and extort them until nothing is left.
Three Famous Criminal Cases of Nigerian Romance Scams.
While some scammers have been brought to justice, thousands of cases are still under investigation. Below are three notable cases where scammers were found guilty:
- Ogheneofejiro Godswill Uzokpa (November 2024): In this case, Uzokpa was charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from a disabled woman in romance scams conducted between March 2020 and February 2021 (3)
- Patrick Edah, Efe Egbowawa, Igocha Mac-Okor, Kay Ozegbe (November 2024): his group of four men was found guilty of laundering money obtained through an international romance scam ring, victimizing citizens in the U.S. and Canada, resulting in a loss of over $400,000. The group is now serving separate sentences in federal prison.(4)
- Ifeanyichukwu Festus Obi (February 2023): Obi was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in stealing $1.32 million from romance scams in which he assisted with money laundering.(5)
How to Protect Yourself from Falling for Romance Scams
To protect yourself from falling victim to any type of romance scam, it’s important to stay aware and vigilant when engaging in online activity. The first step is to be cautious about what you share online. This applies not only to the information you share with new connections but also to what you post on your own profile. Scammers can use this information against you, making you a target for potential extortion.
Next, always verify the information of anyone you’re interacting with. Tools such as reverse image searches can help you determine if the photos on a profile are authentic. It is also a good idea to research the information that they provide you regarding their background or family life.
Additionally, be wary of excuses that prevent you from meeting in person or having a video call. In several cases investigated by Digital Forensics Corp., victims reported that their scammers used excuses such as poor internet connection or time constraints to avoid video chats. Don’t fall for these excuses! Legitimate connections should be willing to engage in these forms of communication before trying to establish a relationship.
What To Do If You’ve Already Been A Victim of This Type of Romance Scam
If you’ve been targeted by a romance scam and sent money to a scammer, it’s important to act quickly to limit further damage and recover what you can. Below are the steps you should take immediately:
Report Your Scammer to The FBI IC3 Helpline
The Federal Bureau of Investigations provides a special method for victims of cyber crimes including romance scams, sextortion, or online harassment to report the issue to law enforcement.
Using their Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), you can file a complaint online, and it will be investigated by the appropriate agency. However, while reporting does help with potential recovery of funds, there are no reported timelines for when your case will be processed.
Work with A Cyber Security Firm Experienced in Digital Investigations
If you’ve been a victim of a romance scam, a cybersecurity firm like Digital Forensics Corp. can help you take critical steps to trace the scammer and assist with your recovery. Our team specializes in advanced IP-to-location tracking and device fingerprinting techniques to uncover the identity and location of cybercriminals.
Additionally, the data we gather can be used to help you compile evidence that could later be useful in legal proceedings.
At Digital Forensics Corp., we work closely with law enforcement agencies and legal teams to gather evidence that supports victims. Our goal is to help victims of romance scams recover and prevent further victimization. If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to a romance scam, contact our Victim Helpline at 800.849.6515 for assistance and guidance on how to move forward
Sources:
- Report of $1.9 billion in losses – Federal Trade Commission (FTC): https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/10/ftc-issues-annual-report-congress-agencys-actions-protect-older-adults
- Nigerian Romance Scams primarily targeting women-Digital Forensics Corp.
- Case of Ogheneofejiro Godswill Uzokpa – US Attorney’s Office: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdil/pr/nigerian-national-sentenced-federal-prison-defrauding-seniors-through-manipulation
- Case of Patrick Edah, Efe Egbowawa, Igocha Mac-Okor, Kay Ozegbe – Us Attorney’s Office: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/four-nigerian-citizens-sentenced-connection-international-romance-scams
- Case of Ifeanyichukwu Festus Obi – Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney: https://devweb65.tarrantcountytx.gov/content/dam/main/Criminal-District-Attorney/news-releases/IfeanyichukwuFestusObiNewsRelease022823.pdf
DISCLAIMER: THIS POST IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE ON ANY SUBJECT MATTER. DIGITAL FORENSICS CORP. IS NOT A LAWFIRM AND DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL ADVICE OR SERVICES. By viewing posts, the reader understands there is no attorney-client relationship, the post should not be used as a substitute for legal advice from a licensed professional attorney, and readers are urged to consult their own legal counsel on any specific legal questions concerning a specific situation.
The information presented in this article is based on sources that are not readily available to the public and may be subject to restrictions or confidentiality. It is intended for informational purposes only.
