Romance Fraud Scam Leads To Prison Sentence For Woodbridge Man

WOODBRIDGE, VA — A man from Woodbridge was sentenced to 21 months in prison for his role in a romance fraud scheme, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Authorities claimed that Abdul Rasak Garuba was part of a scheme that targeted senior citizens across the country beginning in February 2016.

In the scheme, individuals in Nigeria would mislead people on dating apps. Victims thought they were sending money to romantic partners, but the funds would actually go to Garuba's bank accounts, authorities said. Most of the victims were senior citizens, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Garuba opened several accounts at local banks in Virginia to receive the funds. One victim called his bank to report that the money he sent to Garuba was part of a fraud scheme.

"Garuba lied and told his bank that he was engaged in business with the victims, had purchased cars for them, and had the paperwork to prove it," the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Eastern District of Virginia said in a news release. "Garuba’s bank closed his account for fraud when he failed to produce any records."

However, Garuba continued to receive wire transfers and cash from fraud victims, according to court records.

Authorities believe that Garuba transferred around 15 percent of the $2.9 million that fraudsters obtained through the scheme. Officials said that Garuba knew the money was obtained through fraud.

Garuba used the funds to purchase vehicles at auction in the U.S. He then shipped the vehicles to Nigeria for the leaders of the scheme, the U.S. Attorney's Office claimed.

In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission reported $304 million in losses as a result of romance scams. The FTC lists several tips to avoid dating app scams:

• Never send money or gifts to a partner you haven't met in person
• Scammers on dating apps often say they are in the military, working on an oil rig, or are a doctor with an international organization
• Scammers often say they need money for a plane ticket, a medical procedure, gambling debts, custom fees, or a visa
• Scammers typically ask for money through wire transfer, reload cards, or gift cards

Anyone who is targeted by a scam can report it to the FTC online.

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