PROVIDENCE, RI — Three Nigerian nationals were charged with running an online romance racket that targeted, among others, an elderly Rhode Island resident.
William Elvis, 35, Moses Kolawole Hezekiah, 34, and Destiny Okobeni Oghentega, 30, were each charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with the flirtatious fraud, according to a media release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
See also: Rain Through The Weekend In Rhode Island
Starting in early 2021, "Elvis, Hezekiah, Oghentega, and others engaged in a scheme to defraud individuals through online impersonation and romance-based scams," the release said.
See also: FBI, US Attorney Release Findings On Brown University Mass Shooting
"Victims, including an elderly Rhode Island resident, were contacted by individuals who falsely portrayed themselves as professionals working overseas and, over time, developed relationships with them," according to the release.
See also: Rhode Island's Rise In Drug Crime Among Steepest In America: Study
The treacherous trio "made repeated requests for money under false pretenses, including claims of financial hardship, legal issues, or medical emergencies," the release said, and their marks were "directed to send funds through gift cards, Bitcoin transactions, and other means, including transfers to accounts controlled by participants in the scheme."
See also: Popular National Restaurant Chain Closes Sole Rhode Island Location
The targets of the conspiracy "sent substantial sums of money over the course of the scheme," per the release, and the FBI "determined that the identities used were misappropriated, used without the individuals’ knowledge, and that communications and financial activity were traced to the defendants in Nigeria."
See also: Pawtucket Man Pleads No Contest To Deadly New Year's Day Crash
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Across Rhode Island Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.