A Romance Rip-off Price a 77-Yr-Previous Extra Than $177,000. A Georgia Man Pleaded Responsible

A 77-year-old lady in Western New York thought she was speaking to a person named “Oliver Wilson.” Federal prosecutors mentioned the title was pretend.

Stephen Odiboh, 53, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, pleaded responsible to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after investigators mentioned he and others used on-line romance and monetary scams to focus on a number of victims, in response to The Daily Record.

The most important loss described within the case concerned the 77-year-old lady, who was contacted by Fb in 2023 by somebody posing as “Oliver Wilson.” Prosecutors mentioned the pretend profile claimed to be a widowed U.S. citizen dwelling in Norway.

Over about 18 months, the lady despatched roughly $15,000 in present playing cards and greater than $162,000 in checks to individuals and entities named by the scammer. Two checks have been despatched on to Odiboh, in response to prosecutors.

The Faux Profile Claimed He Was a Widower in Norway

Investigators mentioned Odiboh used the “Oliver Wilson” identification to construct a web-based romantic relationship with the lady after contacting her on Fb.

The story finally became a requirement for more cash. In December 2024, prosecutors mentioned “Wilson” claimed Norwegian customs officers have been holding him and demanded a further $158,000.

The lady mailed two checks, however her financial institution detected the fraud and stopped fee earlier than that cash was misplaced.

The Funds Included Present Playing cards and Checks

The sooner funds had already brought about main injury. Prosecutors mentioned the lady despatched about $15,000 in present playing cards and greater than $162,000 in checks through the scheme.

The Justice Department beforehand mentioned Odiboh personally acquired $70,000 from the aged romance-scam sufferer after which laundered the cash.

The identical federal launch mentioned losses and tried losses tied to Odiboh totaled $356,525.

Odiboh Pleaded Responsible to Wire Fraud Conspiracy

Odiboh pleaded responsible earlier than U.S. District Decide Charles J. Siragusa. The conspiracy cost carries a most sentence of 20 years in jail.

He’s scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 8 earlier than Decide Siragusa, in response to The Every day Document.

The case was investigated by the FBI.

Prosecutors Stated 4 Victims Have been Focused

Federal authorities mentioned Odiboh and co-conspirators defrauded 4 victims between 2023 and March 2025 by on-line romance and monetary scams.

One case concerned a caterer who acquired a fraudulent $2,800 test and was advised to ship $2,000 to Odiboh by Zelle. Prosecutors mentioned the sufferer acknowledged the rip-off and didn’t deposit the test.

One other sufferer who met a scammer on a courting web site despatched $2,000 to Odiboh by Money App. A 3rd wired $17,525 after somebody posing as a romantic curiosity claimed he wanted cash to ship items from Bahrain to Texas.

The Purple Flag Was Cash for Somebody She Had Not Met

The FTC warns that romance scammers typically construct belief on-line earlier than asking for cash. Requests involving present playing cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, fee apps, or checks needs to be handled as a warning signal once they come from somebody the sufferer has not met in individual.

Anybody who has already despatched cash ought to save messages, receipts, financial institution data, mailing data, gift-card numbers, and any account names utilized by the individual requesting fee. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center accepts on-line fraud stories.