Online Romeos Scammed Women Out Of $3 Million: Prosecutors

LOS ANGELES, CA — A Los Angeles man and his brother used online dating sites to con women looking for love out of millions of dollars, federal prosecutors alleged Monday.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, 53-year-old Kinston Osagie of Los Angeles and his Nigerian-based brother Roland Ighiwiyisi, 40, scammed the women and then laundered the money through U.S. banks.

Osagie allegedly opened at least 18 different U.S. bank accounts between January 2015 and August which took in about $6 million in cash, check and wire deposits. Of that amount, the indictment alleges $3 million is traceable primarily to victims of romance fraud.

According to prosecutors, websites such as Tinder and Match.com. to target susceptible people looking for romance. They created fake profiles using intriguing names, photos, personas and locations to lure in victims, prosecutors claim. The Romeos offered excuses for being unable to meet face-to-face but managed to convince their victims they were engaged in a true romance before persuading them to send money and gifts, prosecutors allege.

City News Service contributed to this report.