EVIL CON 

Trio jailed for role in heartless ‘romance fraud’ scam after OAP victim lost over €250k in life savings

• 20:56, 28 Jul 2022
• Updated: 20:56, 28 Jul 2022

A OAP was conned out of more than €250,000 in a romance fraud.

Three Nigerian men were today jailed for their role in the heartless scam which saw the 66-year-old victim lose her life savings.

They set up a fake account under the name ‘Neil Turner’ on dating website Plenty of Fish, which she started messaging with in November 2019.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the fraudsters told the smitten woman that Turner had business dealing with oil and gas off the coast of Cork.

And they claimed he was due to receive a large inheritance.

The conmen then began to ask the woman for money to help Turner with his business

Over the course of six months, she transferred just over €254,000 to who she believed was Turner.

However, the woman eventually became suspicious and contacted the National Economic Crime Bureau who linked the profile to three Nigerian men in Ireland.

Omowale Owolabi, 31, of Navan Co Meath, admitted theft.

Raak Sami Sadu, 32, of Clonsilla, Dublin, admitted conspiracy to commit fraud.

And Samson Ajayi, 33, of Grangerath, Co Meath admitted money laundering.

Judge Martin Nolan jailed Owolabi for three years and three months.

He caged Ajayi for two and a half years in prison and locked up Sadu for three years.

He said the victim in this case fell for the “collective charm” of the three men.

He said romance fraud can do “damage to people” who are so embarrassed they don’t want to contact the Gardai.