Photos: Nigerian man who posed as US Army captain to scam women out of their life savings ordered to repay £200,000

Wednesday, 14 December 2016

38-year-old Nigerian student Tosin Femi Olasemo, who posed as a US Army captain to con lonely women out of their life savings has been ordered by UK court to repay more than £200,000.

The duped women believed Captain Morgan Travis was an Afghan war hero looking for love on website Match.com. But Captain Travis did not exist and had been invented by fraudster Olasemo, who was jailed in 2015 for four-and-a-half years after admitting fraud. 

 A confiscation hearing at Cardiff Crown Court has now ruled he will serve a further two-and-a half years if he does not pay the money back and will be deported when he is released.

In the UK on a student, Olasemo used a picture of a soldier wearing full military uniform as his profile picture. He claimed he was stationed at Camp Joyce, a remote base in eastern Afghanistan. Olasemo began online relationship with the women before asking for money.

Prosecutor Ruth Smith said small amounts spiralled into a fortune after he brainwashed women into believing they were in a real relationship. 

"He conducted an online dating fraud exploiting lonely and vulnerable women by pretending he was an American soldier in Afghanistan to get money." said Smith.

When police searched his computer in January 2015 they found conversations with numerous women. 

They also found several false Nigerian passports and driving licences.
Olasemo had a benefit from his crime totalling £253,347. The court ordered that £200,707 is repaid to his two victims who reside in Denmark.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said: “An investigation revealed that Olasemo had links to Nigerian bank accounts containing more than £150,000 and land purchased in Nigeria for around £47,000. 

In addition, he was in possession of more than £1,100 when he was arrested.

"Olasemo had a benefit from his crime totalling £253,347. The court ordered that £200,707 is repaid to his two victims who reside in Denmark." said Detective Inspector Paul Giess. 

"This case has demonstrated the dangers of providing personal details and sending money to strangers online. "Fraudsters use a variety of tactics to con their victims.

Source: Express UK