A Nigerian man, who pretended to be a beautiful female American
soldier on Facebook, has been arrested by Thailand authorities for
internet romance fraud.
The Nigerian, known as Antonio Jose Carlos or ‘Star Boy’ in his
community, had been targetting lonely Thai men and defrauding them
of their savings with promises of love.
According to reports from the Asian country, the 35-year-old was
arrested alongside his 20-year-old Thai girlfriend, Sukanya Sakaew,
in an apartment in Chaengwattana.
Thai Police allegedly found six mobile phones and a few bank
books at the apartment, which had a circulating fund of THB3
million (about $92,000).
Police investigators said, “Star Boy” was engaged in ongoing
conversations with 38 middle-aged men, adding that the amount he
conned off his targets were yet to be ascertained.
Reports further said five members of the ‘Star Boy’ gang – all
Nigerians – were arrested after an investigation.
The gang was said to have played on their victims’ desperate
need for romance and tricked them into transferring money to its
bank accounts. Some had built social media profiles to give the
appearance of a luxurious lifestyle, then asked victims to invest
in a business with them.
Police have charged the suspects with fraud and putting false
information into a computer system that causes damages to
others.
A Nigerian man, who pretended to be a beautiful female American
soldier on Facebook, has been arrested by Thailand authorities for
internet romance fraud.
The Nigerian, known as Antonio Jose Carlos or ‘Star Boy’ in his
community, had been targetting lonely Thai men and defrauding them
of their savings with promises of love.
According to reports from the Asian country, the 35-year-old was
arrested alongside his 20-year-old Thai girlfriend, Sukanya Sakaew,
in an apartment in Chaengwattana.
Thai Police allegedly found six mobile phones and a few bank
books at the apartment, which had a circulating fund of THB3
million (about $92,000).
Police investigators said, “Star Boy” was engaged in ongoing
conversations with 38 middle-aged men, adding that the amount he
conned off his targets were yet to be ascertained.
Reports further said five members of the ‘Star Boy’ gang – all
Nigerians – were arrested after an investigation.
The gang was said to have played on their victims’ desperate
need for romance and tricked them into transferring money to its
bank accounts. Some had built social media profiles to give the
appearance of a luxurious lifestyle, then asked victims to invest
in a business with them.
Police have charged the suspects with fraud and putting false
information into a computer system that causes damages to
others.
Read more https://www.nairalaw.com/nigerias-star-boy-five-others-arrested-in-bangkok-for-romance-scam/