Charles Uchenna Nwadavid, a 35-year-old married father of two, has admitted to orchestrating a complex romance scam that targeted women across several states in the United States. The victims, who believed they were in loving relationships with the same man, were deceived into sending millions of dollars to cover purported medical bills. The scam involved Nwadavid posing as different individuals, including “Williams Moore,” “Manuel Sykes,” and “Edward Nowak,” each time claiming to be working on an oil rig and in need of financial assistance due to injuries sustained in a fire.
Nwadavid’s scheme was sophisticated, involving multiple layers of deception. He communicated with his victims solely through email and text messages, never meeting them in person. His victims, who were from Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Kansas, were manipulated into believing they were in committed relationships with him. The women were instructed to open crypto accounts and transfer funds to Bitcoin wallets controlled by Nwadavid, who then used these accounts to launder the money.
One of the victims, a woman from Massachusetts, was tricked into opening a crypto account at Bitcoin of America. Nwadavid then accessed her account and transferred the funds to his own Bitcoin wallets. This woman became a “money mule,” collecting illicit funds from other victims. For instance, a New Jersey woman sent $896,000, a Florida woman sent $235,000, and another Massachusetts woman sent about $276,000. The total amount sent by the six women amounted to millions of dollars.
Nwadavid’s scam was not an isolated incident. Romance scams have become increasingly prevalent, particularly during the pandemic. These scams often target vulnerable individuals, including the elderly, who are more susceptible to emotional manipulation. The FBI reported nearly 18,000 complaints about romance fraud in 2024, with victims over the age of 60 losing a total of $389 million. The total losses among all age groups were approximately $672 million.
The emotional toll on the victims is immense. One 66-year-old Montana woman, who was involved in a different romance scam, lost over $90,000. She described the experience as addictive, comparing the texts from her purported romantic partner to a drug. The emotional trauma left her feeling as though she had lost her heart and soul. “Hindsight is always 20-20,” she told the FBI, “But I wasn’t thinking with my brain, I was thinking with my heart.”
Nwadavid’s case is part of a broader trend of romance and investment scams. In June, authorities sentenced five individuals for running a $17 million romance and investment scam ring. Similarly, a Missouri woman admitted to aiding a Nigerian romance scam that netted $1 million and involved at least one victim in her early 70s. These cases highlight the growing sophistication and reach of such scams, which often involve international networks and complex financial transactions.
Nwadavid’s sentencing is scheduled for September. His actions underscore the need for increased awareness and vigilance against romance scams, which can have devastating financial and emotional consequences for their victims. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of verifying the identity and intentions of online romantic partners and being cautious about sending money to individuals met online.
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