In the peaceful city of Ilkal, located in Karnataka’s Bagalkot district, a divorced lady looking for an opportunity to start over uploaded her profile to an online matrimony website, hoping to find a partner and possibly the chance to find love again. She didn’t realize she would lead her into an international scam that was orchestrated by a Nigerian man, who was posing as a potential suitor from London. What started out as promising online chats about marriage eventually became a calculated scam that cost her 5.5 lakh, which is approximately N9 million.
The man, who identified him self by the name of Satya Amit, contacted her approximately a year and a half ago, wooing her with stories of her life living in London in the UK as well as vows of commitment. As their online relationship intensified, he said that he traveled through India for a meeting in real life. However, upon arriving, the two of them sat down to tell a story of a mishap: Customs officials on the ground had taken the stash of US dollars that weighed 1 crore. He was in desperate need of funds to get them out. Based on his story and the new bond, the woman volunteered to assist by transferring the required money of Rs 5.5 lakh through RTGS to the bank account that he had provided.
After the money was deposited in the account of Satya, Amit vanished, leaving messages unanswered and dreams shattered. Convinced she was being scammed and unable to trust anyone, the woman contacted the cybercrime police in Bagalkot to file an anonymous complaint that led to an investigation that was thorough. In examining digital footprints from payment applications like Phone Pay and Google Pay, authorities uncovered the path that led towards Mumbai’s Shivaji Nagar Bonkode Ganv in Khairane Thane.
On the 4th of September 2025, a 47-year-old Nigerian suspect, who is actually Oliver Ugwu Okechukwu, was arrested at his home. The investigation revealed four cell phones along with a laptop computer and a passport, all tools of his deceitful trade. The court was notified, and the suspect was placed in judicial detention, marking the conclusion of his elaborate scheme.
This incident highlights the increasing dangers of online romance scams, where scammers exploit matrimonial websites to target vulnerable people across the globe. For those who are using online dating sites in search of authentic connections, caution is crucial to avoid falling victim to such sham-like scams.
