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Two guilty over match.com scam Two guilty over match.com dating site scam
(about 1 hour later)
Two men have been found guilty of money laundering after women were scammed out of nearly £250,000 on a dating website. Two men have been convicted for their roles in a scam to con 12 women out of nearly £250,000 via a dating website.
Peter Monty Emu, 28, of Portsmouth and Adewunmi Nusi, 27, of Hermitage, Berkshire, were convicted at Winchester Crown Court of tricking 12 women. Winchester Crown Court heard the fictional "James Richards" told women using match.com he needed money to release a £100m inheritance in India.
Last month, Chukwuka Ugwu, 28, admitted money laundering and Emmanuel Oko, 29, admitted the same charge and fraud. One victim handed over £174,000.
Abbey Boston, 28, of Titchfield, Hampshire was cleared of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering. Peter Monty Emu, 28, of Portsmouth, and Adewunmi Nusi, 27, of Hermitage, Berkshire, were convicted of money laundering. Chukwuka Ugwu, 28, and Emmanuel Oko admitted the same charge.
Oko, 29, of Waverley Grove, Southsea, also admitted fraud.
The four men are due to be sentenced next month and the Crown Prosecution Service will apply for the "ill-gotten" money to be confiscated.
The court heard how fake profiles were created on the dating site.
Women were flattered by the messages from the "attractive middle-aged man", one of which said: "I knew our friendship would grow from the first day we spoke but neither one of us could imagine the love exploding, no thundering into our hearts."
'Elaborate scam'
Once the relationships developed, the conspirators started requesting cash.
The women were first asked for a £700 legal fee by a fake solicitor but then the sums requested rose to up to £100,000.
One victim, Suzanne Hardman, handed over £174,000.
Suspicions were raised when one woman received the same email twice and wrote back to the sender, saying: "I wonder how many hearts you have broken".
Det Con Darrin Carey, of Hampshire Constabulary, said: "The women were duped into thinking that they were talking to a man who was genuinely looking for love on the dating website match.com.
"Unfortunately for them, they were part of an elaborate scam."
Abbey Boston, 28, of Titchfield, Hampshire, was cleared of conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.
Eberechi Ekpo, 26, of Portsmouth was acquitted under directions of the judge on 29 August.Eberechi Ekpo, 26, of Portsmouth was acquitted under directions of the judge on 29 August.
The court during the trial heard how women, who all used match.com, were told by fictional James Richards that he needed money to release a £100m inheritance in India. Match.com has been contacted for a comment.