[ad_1]
A New Jersey man scampered dozens of women over 2 million dollars posing as a US service member – who was stationed abroad and was looking for love on websites of Internet meetings, according to federal prosecutors.
Rubbin Sarpong, 35, from Cumberland County, allegedly "seduced" his victims online and then convinced them to send him money under the promise that he would return "gold bars" from the Middle East.
Using "a myriad of email accounts and phone numbers with the Voice Over Internet Protocol," prosecutors said Sarpong and a number of conspirators had contacted more than 30 women and ordered them to be fired from him. 39; money.
"Between January 2016 and September 3, 2019, Sarpong and his conspirators, many of whom reside in Ghana, allegedly participated in an online romance ploy, swindling victims in New Jersey and elsewhere," officials said Wednesday. Justice in a press release. .
"Sarpong and the conspirators have established dating profiles on various dating sites, using fictitious or stolen identities and pretending to be US military posted abroad," the statement said. "They contacted the victims through the dating sites and then claimed to have a romantic relationship with them. After establishing virtual dating relationships with victims on online dating and email platforms, the conspirators asked them for money, often for the purported purpose of paying to ship gold bullion. in the USA. Although the stories vary, most often, Sarpong and the conspirators claim to be servicemen stationed in Syria who have received, recovered or earned gold bullion. The conspirators told many victims that their money would be returned once gold bullion was received in the United States. "
The women reportedly transferred money to bank accounts held by Sarpong and his cohorts through US financial institutions.
"Sometimes victims also posted personal checks and / or bank checks to the conspirators and also transferred money to the conspirators via money transfer services, such as Western Union and MoneyGram," said officials of the Ministry of Justice. "The funds were not used for the purposes claimed by the conspirators – namely the transportation of non-existent gold bullion to the United States – but were instead withdrawn in cash, towards others. national bank accounts and to other conspirators in Ghana. . "
Sarpong, a resident of Millville, was arrested on Wednesday charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud. He is accused of having cheated his victims with more than 2.1 million dollars.
"Sarpong would have personally collected $ 823,386 in victim funds from bank accounts that he owned or controlled," officials said. "Sarpong has posted photos of himself on social media, posing with big money, high-end cars and expensive jewelry."
Sarpong incurs a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $ 250,000 in the event of conviction. We do not know if he got the services of a lawyer.
He was arrested on Wednesday.
[ad_2]
Source link