ScamsNOW!
The SCARS Institute Magazine about Scam Victims-Survivors, Scams, Fraud & Cybercrime
Scam Victim Commits Suicide
Romance Scam Scammers Arrested
Author:
• SCARS Editorial Team – Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
Nigerians Scammers Living In The U.S. Romance Scam Elderly Man Who Then Takes His Own Life!
The FBI has disclosed a tragic story involving a retired teacher’s suicide, a result of falling victim to a sick celebrity romance scam, allegedly orchestrated by a New Jersey couple of Nigerian descent, Chinagorom Onwumere, 34, and Salma Abdalkareem, 27, residing in the United States.
The heartbreaking incident unfolded in Greeneville, Tennessee, where the 74-year-old teacher took his life after losing nearly $100,000 to the romance scam perpetuated by Onwumere and Abdalkareem. The victim was convinced he was romantically involved with a well-known female celebrity, misled by the couple.
The scam involved fraudulent emails, where the victim believed he was communicating with the celebrity. However, emails purportedly from the “United States FBI” accused the victim of sexually harassing the celebrity through their exchanges, demanding payment to settle the issue. Subsequently, the victim sent significant amounts via checks and bank transactions, falling prey to the couple’s manipulative tactics.
The Victim’s Suicide
Tragically, the victim’s death was ruled a suicide, discovered by law enforcement responding to an address in Jonesborough, Tennessee, where the elderly man was found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The victim’s family discovered incriminating emails on his tablet, exposing the fraudulent scheme.
Investigations revealed the checks sent by the victim were deposited into accounts held by Onwumere and Abdalkareem. Video footage from an ATM in Colts Neck, New Jersey, captured the couple depositing one of the victim’s checks into a joint account. The evidence led to their arrest by the Piscataway Township Police Department.
According to the Washington County Sherrif’s Department
WCSO ARRESTS NEW JERSEY NIGERIAN PAIR IN ROMANCE EXTORTION SCAM
JONESBOROUGH – Washington County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested New Jersey residents Chinagorom Onwumere, 34, and Salma Abdalkareem, 27, in relation to an extortion scam.
Both are charged with three counts each of Extortion, three counts each of Financial Exploitation of an Elderly/Vulnerable Person, two counts each of
Theft Over $60,000 and two counts each of Criminal Impersonation.
According to Sheriff Keith Sexton, WCSO became aware of a scam in late October. The victim sent numerous gift cards along with three checks totaling $87,500 to the suspects, who made threats to the victim and the victim’s family via email. It is estimated the victim sent more than $100,000 total.
Deputies traced the pair to New Jersey and worked with the Piscataway Township Police Department to execute a search warrant on the suspect’s home, which resulted in their arrest on Fugitive from Justice charges.
Onwumere and Abdalkareem waived extradition and were transported to the Washington County Detention Center.
At their initial court appearance on Nov. 20, bond was set at $500,000 each for the pair. A preliminary hearing is set for Nov.
Onwumere, a member of the Army National Guard, worked in financial management. Abdalkareem and Onwumere provided conflicting statements to law enforcement when confronted with evidence, suggesting various reasons for receiving money, none of which aligned with the truth.
The couple faces federal charges of mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, and impersonating a U.S. officer, accused of extracting more than $90,000 from the victim. However, local authorities suspect the total could be higher.
“They both work to attempt in getting the check to deposit, finally the check deposits, and they depart,” the complaint states. “Onwumere was wearing a USA shirt with a coat and an Army hat.”
“Adbalkareem claimed that they received checks to help Nigerians buy cars in the U.S. and Onwumere claimed that he was getting money from Nigeria for a friend of his that he met in basic training,” the complaint says.
“You’ll use your expertise in math to provide financial advice and recommendations for units looking to purchase services and supplies for their missions,” the Army website tells prospective recruits. “You’ll also be in charge of military pay, overseeing services with commercial vendors, auditing, accounting, banking operations, and more.”
While such scams often originate internationally, the unusual exposure of the perpetrators’ identities led to their arrest. Eva Velasquez, president of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center, highlighted the emotional impact of such crimes, emphasizing that victims aren’t gullible but instead preyed upon by deceitful tactics.
The case demonstrates “something that we’ve been really trying to get people to pay attention to, and that is the emotional impact of these crimes,” Velasquez told
In Custody
Onwumere and Abdalkareem remain in custody on a $500,000 bond, awaiting their next court appearance, with no attorneys listed on the federal docket at present. Their case stands as a grim reminder of the devastating impact and manipulation tactics used in online romance scams, shedding light on the need for awareness and prevention against such criminal activities.
Criminal Complaint
More:
- 96 Year Old Romance Scam Victim (scamsnow.com)
- Scam Victim Suicides Are Up – New Data Hints (scamsnow.com)
- Being Aware Of Scam Victim Suicide Risk (romancescamsnow.com)
- Nigerian Scammer Justice: Why We MUST Extradite – Guest Editorial – 2023 (scamsnow.com)
- Scam Victims And The Crossing Of The River Styx – An Interpretation Of The Recovery Process – 2023 (scamsnow.com)
- Understanding Criminality – What Is Its Essence? 2023 (scamsnow.com)
- Scammers Are The New Boogeymen! 2023 (scamsnow.com)
- Romance Scam/Fraud Can Be Local Not Just Online (scamsnow.com)
SCARS Resources:
- For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
- Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
- Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
- Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
- Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
- Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
- Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
- Global Cyber Alliance ACT Cybersecurity Tool Website: Actionable Cybersecurity Tools (ACT) (globalcyberalliance.org)
- Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
- Donate to SCARS and help us help others at donate.AgainstScams.org
- Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: International Suicide Hotlines – OpenCounseling : OpenCounseling
- Campaign To End Scam Victim Blaming – 2024 (scamsnow.com)
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
SCARS Institute now offers a free recovery program at www.SCARSeducation.org
Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors, please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and not to blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and help victims avoid scams in the future. At times, this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims; we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens, and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
SCARS INSTITUTE RESOURCES:
If You Have Been Victimized By A Scam Or Cybercrime
♦ If you are a victim of scams, go to www.ScamVictimsSupport.org for real knowledge and help
♦ Enroll in SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
♦ To report criminals, visit https://reporting.AgainstScams.org – we will NEVER give your data to money recovery companies like some do!
♦ Follow us and find our podcasts, webinars, and helpful videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RomancescamsNowcom
♦ Learn about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
♦ Dig deeper into the reality of scams, fraud, and cybercrime at www.ScamsNOW.com and www.RomanceScamsNOW.com
♦ Scam Survivor’s Stories: www.ScamSurvivorStories.org
♦ For Scam Victim Advocates visit www.ScamVictimsAdvocates.org
♦ See more scammer photos on www.ScammerPhotos.com
You can also find the SCARS Institute on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and TruthSocial
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here
If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair, please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.
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A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish. Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors’ experience. You can do Google searches, but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
