A Nigerian socialite has been accused of impersonating the Crown Prince of Dubai in an elaborate online romance and investment scam that allegedly defrauded a Romanian businesswoman of about $2.5 million.
The allegations are contained in an investigative report by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), which identified the suspect as Nzube Henry Ikeji.
According to the report, the scheme began nearly three years ago when the victim, identified only as Laura, was contacted on LinkedIn by a man claiming to be Dubai’s crown prince. He reportedly expressed interest in investing in a humanitarian project in Romania, gradually building trust through frequent communication.
The interaction later evolved into what appeared to be a romantic relationship. The fake “prince” allegedly introduced Laura to an accomplice, Dr Martins Abhulimhen, who posed as his financial manager. She was encouraged to travel to London, where she was told to open a bank account linked to a supposed royal investment portfolio.
Laura was subsequently given login details to an online account that appeared to show millions of dollars. Investigators, however, said the platform was fake and held no real funds. To access the money, she was allegedly instructed to pay various fees and charges, eventually transferring more than $2.5 million to accounts connected to the suspects.
The report said the scam unravelled after internal disputes within the alleged syndicate, with one contact eventually warning Laura that she had been deceived. A whistleblower later revealed Ikeji’s identity and provided video evidence allegedly showing him living an extravagant lifestyle in Abuja.
Investigators reportedly traced some of the funds to bank accounts in the United Kingdom and Nigeria. Both men accused in the scheme have denied wrongdoing, with Ikeji referring inquiries to his lawyers.
Authorities in the UK and Nigeria are said to be continuing investigations into the case, which has highlighted the growing sophistication of transnational online fraud involving false identities and emotional manipulation.