Romance fraud gang convicted of laundering £3.25 million

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Five individuals have been convicted of laundering over £3.25 million through an elaborate romance scam targeting victims on online dating websites.

The group exploited the emotional vulnerability of dozens of people, particularly the recently bereaved or divorced by posing as romantic partners and manipulating them into sending large sums of money.

According to prosecutors, 40 people were officially identified as victims, but the actual number is believed to be more than double.

Romance fraud gang convicted

How the romance scam worked

The perpetrators created fake dating profiles, complete with fabricated bios, flattering photos, and affectionate messages, to lure victims into seemingly genuine romantic relationships.

Once trust was established, the criminals fabricated emotional or financial emergencies to pressure their victims into sending money.

Common lies used:

Covering medical bills or emergency treatments
Paying fines or fees in remote or overseas locations
Funding “business trips” that never existed
Replacing a “stolen wallet” while stranded abroad

Victims were persuaded to transfer money directly to bank accounts controlled by the scammers or even send cash by post.

Once payments were made, the fraudsters laundered the funds through a network of personal accounts, concealing the criminal origins of the money.

Sentencing and legal consequences

It is estimated that the romance fraudsters laundered over £3.25 million ($4.22 million) from their victims.

At a trial held at Guildford Crown Court on Friday, Fawaz Ali, 27, Ebenezer Tackie, 42, and Michael Quartey, 28, were all convicted of money laundering offences.

Two others convicted were Kwabena Edusei, 36, who pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. While George Melseaux, 40, pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering and possession of ID documents with intent to misuse for fraudulent purposes.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Representative

Jane Mitchell, a specialist prosecutor at the CPS, stated, “The criminals here showed complete disregard for their victims who were met on an online dating site for the sole purpose of exploiting and scamming them out of much-needed money.”

Their victims, who were frequently newly bereaved or divorced, suffered from their psychological distress. None of them received any repayment for the money they believed they were lending.

Jane Mitchell encourages everyone who believes they have fallen victim to romance fraud to report it instead of feeling ashamed or embarrassed.

Frequently asked questions

What are romance scams?

A romance scam is where the scammer pretends to be romantically interested in a victim. They gain the victim’s affection and trust over a period of time, before using the relationship to manipulate or steal from the victim.

The relationship will often progress very quickly, and the scammer will go to any lengths to convince the victim that their feelings for them are strong, and that the relationship is genuine.

When that relationship of trust has been established, the scammer will ask the victim for money. The scammer will often use a highly emotive situation such as an emergency to explain why they need the money and to create an urgency for payment to be made.

If you believe that you are the victim of a romance scam, then please contact one of our specialist lawyers and we can provide you with support and guidance on how to recover your money.

How to spot a romance scam?

Do they have a suspicious profile or photo?
Are they a celebrity or well-known person?
Are they residing in another country, or do they travel a lot?
Do they avoid speaking face-to-face?
Does the communication become very intense, very quickly?
Do they arrange to meet in person but then cancel at the last minute?
Do they sound too good to be true?
Have they asked for money? Some of the common reasons given for needing money quickly include:
An emergency situation
Medical bills for them or a family member
A flight to visit you
Money upfront so that they can release large sums of inheritance

How to stay safe from romance fraud

NEVER

No matter how long you have been speaking to someone online, or how much you trust them:

Never send money to someone you have met online
Never withdraw large sums of cash and post this to an unknown address
Never send money abroad at the request of someone you met online
Never give anyone access to your bank account
Never provide copies of any personal documents such as your passport or driving license
Never purchase gift cards on behalf of someone you met online
Never take out a loan at someone else’s request

ALWAYS

Be wary when revealing personal information about yourself online. You have no control over who will see this.
Remember it is easy to create a fake profile online
Remember people can pretend to be anyone they want online
Be vigilant if someone is encouraging you to keep things from your family and friends
Trust your instincts. If it does not feel right, then it is not.
Speak to family members and friends if you have concerns that your relationship could be a scam

STOP

Take a moment to think before you give personal information or pay any money.

CHALLENGE

Always ask yourself ‘Could this be fake?’ and if you have any doubt then reject, refuse, or ignore the request.

PROTECT

Remain vigilant and if you think you have fallen victim to a scam then contact your bank and report it to Action Fraud.

Can I get my money back from a fraud or a scam?

Options available to recover your money:

Recovery of the money can be sought from the financial institution that should have prevented the fraud.
Other regulated firms involved who also could have detected the fraud and issued a warning.
You can attempt to recover the funds yourself without a legal representative, however there are benefits to having instructed a solicitor to do this for you.
By using a solicitor who is a specialist in financial mis-selling claims. We aim to take the hassle out of the claims process as we do all the hard work for you.

Stop! Think fraud. Fraudsters are not fussy. They will pick on anyone.

Nobody is immune from fraud. The criminals behind it target people online and, in their homes, often emotionally manipulating their victims before they steal money or personal data.

But there is something we can do. By staying vigilant and always taking a moment to stop, think and check whenever we are approached, we can help to protect ourselves and each other from fraud.

Members of the public are encouraged to:

Stop and think before parting with your money or information in order to keep you safe.
Challenge whether the information or request you have received could be fake. It is ok to reject, refuse or ignore any requests as only criminals will try to rush or panic you.
Protect yourself by reporting any frauds you think you have fallen for to Action Fraud and speak to your bank immediately.

Why choose Oakwood Solicitors Ltd?

Oakwood Solicitors has a dedicated department of specialised lawyers who have knowledge and experience of bank fraud and scams.

As the scams become increasingly more sophisticated, and the fraudsters become harder to detect, it is important to have the right people on your side to ensure that you have the best chance of recovering your money.

Oakwood Solicitors are experts. They understand the legal and regulatory frameworks surrounding bank fraud and scams.

Romance fraud gang convicted of laundering £3.25 million through online dating scam