Friday
OKLAHOMA CITY — FBI agents are making the very first arrests within their research of a internet dating scam that has duped victims away from vast amounts.
The scam utilized online dating sites like ChristianMingle, Match and OurTime to befriend older females.
A widow from Oklahoma City destroyed a lot more than $1 million this past year in the scam to a guy whom pretended to become a monetary adviser initially from Manchester, England, an FBI agent reported in a court affidavit. An other woman destroyed $1.1 million.
A target in sc destroyed $345,000, and a target in Michigan destroyed $215,000.
Two Houston residents, Ken Ejimofor Ezeah, 33, and Akunna Baiyina Ejiofor, 31, had been charged Wednesday in Oklahoma City court that is federal cable fraudulence and conspiracy to commit cable fraudulence with regards to their so-called functions 
They’re being held in Houston, where these were arrested.
Ejiofor admitted participation within the scam, saying she put up the fake reports on internet dating sites for Ezeah, FBI Special Agent David Tyus reported in a court affidavit.
She stated she only participated “to your degree she could build an income for rental,” the representative composed.
“Ezeah or an acquaintance of their called Franklin would ask her to talk with victims once they needed a voice that is female” the representative published Wednesday. “She reported that she knew that Franklin utilized the persona Edward Peter Duffey whenever working with victims. She reported that she was indeed regarding the phone having a target since recently as yesterday.”
The scam targeted women across the usa. Detectives discovered the person posing as Duffey had plants delivered this past year to feamales in Oklahoma City, Colorado, Georgia, sc, Nevada and Texas.
The FBI agent reported after befriending women online, “Duffey” would text, email and sometimes speak to them by phone, using a thick British accent. “Duffey” eventually would show love for a target, turn the keep in touch with funds, alert the prospective her assets were unsafe and supply to control the funds on her.
Within the scam, the person would state he had been buddies with Mary Jo White, the president of this Securities and Exchange Commission. Then a lady posing as White would phone the prospective and urge her to follow along with “Duffey’s” advice.
A widow from Colorado, whom knew “Duffey” had been a fraudulence, played along. She told the FBI that “Duffey” stated he had been rich along with houses in Switzerland and Florida, along with personal jets and that he initially ended up being from Manchester.
The woman was said by her whom posed given that SEC president sounded really young, based on the FBI affidavit. The widow stated she “had heard the White that is real speak had been specific it was perhaps maybe not her.”
The target from Oklahoma City, identified when you look at the FBI affidavit as Pamela Bale, told the FBI she came across “Duffey” on ChristianMingle March that is last and hit it down.”
He advertised he had been 65 and had been sticking with a close buddy in Houston. He also reported he had been from Manchester and had been a economic adviser for 35 years.
“After around 2 to 3 months of interacting, Duffey told Bale he had been deeply in love with her. Duffey had plants brought to Bale on an occasions that are few” in accordance with the affidavit.
Bale told the FBI that “Duffey” warned her that the business where she had spent her funds that are own under research because of the SEC, and then he encouraged her to withdraw the cash and allow him invest it, in line with the affidavit.
A girl purporting become White through the SEC then called Bale and in addition encouraged her to withdraw her funds, the FBI agent reported. The caller advertised she could perhaps maybe not hold from the SEC research a lot longer.
“After much prayer,” Bale wired $500,000 and $501,000 on might 14 to a banking account in London for “Duffey” to take a position, the FBI agent reported. “After these cable transfers had been made, вЂDuffey’ ceased chatting with Bale.”
The target in Michigan, Virginia Phillips, told the FBI she came across “Duffey” just last year on talkmatch. She stated he utilized the display screen title “Heartofgold3905” and reported to become a pilot that is retired Sunday college instructor located in Fort Worth, Texas.
The FBI has information Ezeah can be from Switzerland. Agents are also investigating the suspected participation of some other Houston resident, Anthony Izuchkwu Benson, 33, whom arrived from Switzerland in September.
The documents offer no information that is further the guy recognized as Franklin, except that he’s a roomie of Benson.