A 25-year-old Nigerian named Chris Maxwell has confessed to defrauding approximately 30 people of over $70,000 (equivalent to Rs 58 lakh) over five years. He indulged in lavish spending on nights out at clubs and luxury clothing. Initially, he experienced feelings of guilt but became desensitised as his profits increased.
Chris Maxwell explained that he began his scamming activities at the age of 17 while he was a student. He targeted individuals on social media platforms in the US, UK, Canada and Germany. He would establish rapport by identifying common interests and gaining their trust, allowing them to confide in him. He would then progress to forming a relationship with them, which served as the foundation for his scamming scheme.
Chris recalls an incident where he convinced an American woman, whom he interacted with online for a year, to give him over $30,000 (Rs 24 lakh). After receiving the money, she fell ill and became depressed, desiring to uncover his true identity. Feeling remorseful for her illness, Chris eventually revealed his face to her. Although she cried upon seeing him, she forgave him for his deception.
Chris used a deceptive tactic by wearing the uniform of the American Army, presenting himself as an officer to attract unsuspecting women. With his muscular physique, short blonde hair, and military attire, he easily captivated his victims. His scheme spanned multiple countries, victimising women from Britain to America, Canada, and Australia.
The accused revealed that he was arrested in Nigeria for his romance scams but was never formally charged. He acknowledged that some of his associates have served prison sentences. None of the money he obtained was returned to his victims. However, after the American woman introduced him to Social Catfish, a company specialising in identifying fraudsters through reverse search technology, Chris found employment as a consultant for the firm. He claimed to be leading a positive life now. Interestingly, since renouncing his criminal activities, he admits to leaking a 40-page instructional manual titled How To Make A White Woman Fall In Love With You From Online Chat, which is utilised by other scammers.
The manual, which advises targeting women over 40, provides detailed instructions on researching potential victims through their social media profiles, including their hobbies, pets, jobs, passions, children, age, location and interests. It suggests initiating contact using the gathered information or selecting from a list of 100 pickup lines, such as “Life without you would be like a broken pencil…pointless.”
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