- New Jersey man faces charges.
- One alleged victim took her own life.
Crooks used online dating sites to defraud dozens of love-seeking victims to the tune of millions of dollars.
That’s according to the U.S. prosecutors who arrested a 35-year old New Jersey man, Rubbin Sarpong.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Sarpong and his partners-in- alleged-crime launched their scheme in 2016. They reportedly used stolen or fake identities to pretend to be U.S. soldiers stationed overseas and established profiles on online dating sites. They became romantically involved using the web and then asked their victims for money, say officials.
Several of the alleged conspirators live in Ghana, West Africa.
The photos below were released in the criminal complaint against Sarpong and published by NBC News.
Authorities say one woman took her own life after wiring $93,000 to various banks. In all, more than 30 victims are said to have lost more than two million dollars in the scheme.
Sarpong could face up to 20 years in prison.
Read more about the case in the press release about the criminal complaint by clicking the link below.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/press-release/file/1199341/download
Sarpong is a foreign national, a citizen of Ghana, West Africa, and according to the indictment “a legal permanent resident of the United States”. His residency needs to be revoked, and he deported.