Nigerian, five others arrested in Turkey over $2.5m romance scam

Turkish authorities have arrested a Nigerian man and five alleged accomplices in connection with a suspected $2.5 million romance scam targeting a dentist from Hong Kong.

The prime suspect, identified as Kingsley O., 43, was arrested in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district alongside five others and was arraigned before a court on Thursday.

According to Turkish investigators, the victim, identified as Siu P.Y.F., was allegedly defrauded after being lured into an online relationship by a man who introduced himself as “Richard,” a wealthy American businessman.

Reports indicate that the pair met on a dating platform in 2020 and maintained contact mainly through phone conversations. Over time, the relationship reportedly progressed, with discussions centred on marriage.

Investigators said the suspect later claimed he had travelled to Istanbul for a major investment project and requested financial assistance, telling the woman he urgently needed funds to complete the deal.

Believing she was assisting her future husband, the dentist allegedly transferred a total of $2.5 million in installments to several bank accounts in Turkey between 2020 and 2022.

Authorities said communication between the two abruptly ended after the money was received, with the suspect reportedly becoming unreachable and switching off his phone.

Realising she had been deceived, the victim reported the matter to police in Hong Kong. After investigations there failed to make significant progress, she engaged a Turkish lawyer who filed a complaint with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.

The case was subsequently taken up by the Fraud Bureau of the Istanbul Police Department’s Public Order Branch, which launched an investigation into the bank accounts that received the funds.

Police initially arrested five account holders linked to the transactions. While four reportedly denied knowledge of the alleged fraud, one suspect confessed to withdrawing and handing over the funds to a Nigerian man known to him as “Richard.”

The confession led investigators to intensify surveillance operations, eventually identifying Kingsley O. as the alleged mastermind behind the scheme.

Authorities said investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the operation and identify any additional individuals connected to the suspected fraud network.