Investigators initially worked off the case of one woman who came forward, but after opening the investigation, six additional victims came forward, along with others who received similar requests but never sent money.
All but one of the nine suspects reside in Toronto and shared online dating profile accounts.
They may change their names and/or contact information, but they can't change their age, because scammers use the same sets of photos most times and have to indicate the age, which would correspond to the age of the girl in the photos.
Perhaps you know that she is 25, try to search for her with 25-25 or 24-26 or 23-27 or other combinations, selecting the country where she claims to live.
When you search this way, it significantly reduces the number of profiles for searching and viewing.
Note: If a girl says that she is from the United States, Canada and Western Europe, we recommend to indicate simultaneously both Nigeria and Ghana as a "country" of her possible residence.
Mr Jensen was naive and trusting and you took full advantage of that by demanding more and money off him.
IN ORDER TO COMMENCE THIS BUSINESS WE SOLICIT YOUR ASSISTANCE TO ENABLE US TRANSFER INTO YOUR ACCOUNT THE SAID TRAPPED FUNDS. 10% TO BE USED IN SETTLING TAXATION AND ALL LOCAL AND FOREIGN EXPENSES.
HOWEVER, BY VIRTUE OF OUR POSITION AS CIVIL SERVANTS AND MEMBERS OF THIS PANEL, WE CANNOT ACQUIRE THIS MONEY IN OUR NAMES. THIS WAY WE WILL USE YOUR COMPANY’S NAME TO APPLY FOR PAYMENT AND THE CONTRACT IN YOUR COMPANY’S NAME.
I HAVE THEREFORE, BEEN DELEGATED AS A MATTER OF TRUST BY MY COLLEAGUES OF THE PANEL TO LOOK FOR AN OVERSEAS PARTNER INTO WHOSE ACCOUNT WE WOULD TRANSFER THE SUM OF US,320,000.00(TWENTY ONE MILLION, THREE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND U. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THIS BUSINESS WITH YOU AND SOLICIT YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY IN THIS TRANSATION.
Detectives then launched a sting operation to arrest Anderson, who was using the identity “Dr Vincent”, during a meeting at a Holiday Inn in London.
Anderson, a refugee from Sierra Leone, pleaded guilty to fraud at the Old Bailey on the first day of his trial.