Nigerian man Adetomiwa Akindele sentenced to 71 months in U.S. prison for $1.6M romance scam, to be deported to Nigeria after jail term.
A U.S. federal court has sentenced Adetomiwa Seun Akindele, a Nigerian national, to 71 months in prison for orchestrating a large-scale romance scam that defrauded a Colorado woman of over $1.6 million. According to U.S. authorities, Akindele used fake online identities to deceive the victim, convincing her to send substantial sums of money under the guise of a romantic relationship.
The sentence was handed down after a thorough investigation by U.S. federal agencies. Upon completing his prison term, Akindele will be deported to Nigeria to face additional scrutiny from law enforcement agencies.
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Romance scams, also known as “catfishing” or online dating fraud, have surged globally in recent years, targeting unsuspecting victims through social media and dating platforms. Authorities in the United States continue to warn the public about such schemes and urge people to verify online relationships before sending money or personal information.
This case highlights the ongoing international efforts to combat cybercrime and fraud, with law enforcement agencies in both Nigeria and the U.S. working to crack down on transnational criminal networks.