International Marriage Scam: Hong Kong Dentist Defrauded of $2.5 Million, Suspects Apprehended in Istanbul
Istanbul, June 11 – A Hong Kong-based dentist, Siu P.Y.F., has been defrauded of approximately $2.5 million over two years by individuals posing as an American businessman and promising marriage and investment. Six suspects, including a Nigerian national identified as Kingsley O. (43), have been arrested in Istanbul and referred to the courthouse. The incident has uncovered an international organized fraud network.
The Modus Operandi: Fake Promises and Investment Scams
The victim, Siu P.Y.F., met a person identifying himself as Richard, an American businessman, on an online dating site in 2020. Their relationship progressed over the phone, and after two years of communication, they decided to marry. The suspect later contacted Siu P.Y.F., claiming to be in Istanbul for an investment opportunity and requesting money. Believing his story, the dentist transferred a total of $2.5 million to various bank accounts between 2020 and 2022. The funds were transferred partly as cryptocurrency and partly to eight different bank accounts in Turkey.
Siu P.Y.F.’s lawyer, Ilker Atamer, stated, “They started to deceive our client with fake documents and various lies. At the end of a two-year period, they took money amounting to 120 million Turkish Liras from our client. Part of this money was taken as cryptocurrency, and part was transferred to eight separate bank accounts in Turkey.”
After losing contact with the individual she expected to marry, Siu P.Y.F. reported the fraud to the Hong Kong police.
Investigation and Arrests in Istanbul
The Hong Kong police initiated an investigation but made no significant progress. Siu P.Y.F. then authorized a lawyer to file a complaint with the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The Istanbul Anti-Fraud Bureau launched an investigation based on the Hong Kong dentist’s complaint. Police tracked the bank accounts where the money was sent and arrested five suspects. Four of these individuals claimed not to remember the incident, while one suspect revealed that the money received in his account was handed over to a Nigerian national known as Richard. Following this lead, police quickly apprehended Kingsley O., the Nigerian national who had introduced himself as Richard.
Kingsley O. denied the accusations during his statement at the Public Order Branch Directorate. The investigation is ongoing, and all six suspects have been referred to the courthouse.
Lawyer’s Advice and Potential Penalties
Attorney Ilker Atamer emphasized the importance of caution when meeting people online. “My general advice to people trying to make friends online is to always be suspicious of the people they meet online and not to believe everything they are told. If there is any request for money, they should immediately end that conversation.” He also noted that this type of fraud often occurs on social media applications like Instagram, Telegram, and dating sites.
Atamer also mentioned that one of the arrested suspects expressed a desire to benefit from effective repentance provisions and compensate the victim for her losses. Under Turkish law, if a fraudster returns the defrauded money and compensates the victim, their sentence can be reduced by two-thirds, and the risk of arrest is eliminated. This legal provision aims to motivate fraudsters to return the money they have stolen.
The lawyer revealed that there are a total of eight suspects in this fraud case. Three of these suspects received money into their personal accounts, while the other five received money through companies they owned or were partners in, including automotive, jewelry, and real estate companies. This has also made them suspects in the case.
The total amount defrauded is over $2.5 million, and the legal team anticipates an arrest warrant for the suspects today.
Broader Implications of Online Scams
This case highlights the growing threat of international online romance and investment scams. Such schemes often exploit emotional vulnerabilities and leverage sophisticated deception tactics to defraud victims of significant sums. Authorities continue to warn the public about the dangers of sending money to individuals met online, especially those who make promises of marriage or lucrative investments.
Source: https://www.istanbulgazetesi.com.tr/evlilik-vaadiyle-dev-vurgun-supheli-istanbulda-yakalandi
