4 Canton Residents Accused Of Scamming Victims Online

CANTON, MA — Four Canton residents have been accused of using online scams to steal over $4 million, said Acting United States Attorney Nathaniel R. Mendell in a news release Thursday.

Nigerian nationals Osakpamwan Henry Omoruyi, 36, and Osaretin Godspower Omoruyi, 34, were charged by criminal complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, said Mendell. Nigerian national Mark Arome Okuo, 41, and Kenyan national Florence Mwende Musau, 36, were charged in a separate complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud.

Macpherson Osemwegie, 32, of Hyde Park, and Mike Oziegbe Amiegbe, 42, of Dorchester, were also accused of participating in the scheme.

Prosecutors say the defendants used fake passports to open bank accounts in the Boston area and participated in a series of romance scams to defraud victims into sending money to those accounts, from which large cash withdrawals were made on a daily basis. The accounts allegedly were also used to collect fraudulent pandemic unemployment benefits, said Mendell.

The defendants are facing up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $1 million.