The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has returned $26,000 USD to British citizen and online fraud victim Christine Brown.
The Briton was defrauded of her life savings by an online fraudster posing as an American performer online after she became emotionally linked with him, according to a statement released by the commission on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.
On Monday, August 28, the Benin Zonal Command of the commission gave Ms. Brown a check for $26,000.
The statement read,
“Brown expressed gratitude to the Commission for its efforts which she said, has brought some succour to her after losing her life’s savings to the fraudsters
The 70-year-old had petitioned the Commission after being defrauded by an internet fraudster through a romance scam. Narrating her ordeal, Brown said she became a victim after she met a purported John Barrowman, an entertainer and citizen of America online
Unknown to her, he was a fraudster. Brown said they became romantically involved, and the fraudster began to demand money which she sent to him through wire transfers, Bitcoin, and gift cards”
The Zonal Commander, Kanu Idagu, said the Commission will continue to carry out its duty for the benefit of society as he handed over the recovered funds.
“We are doing a whole lot in ensuring that victims of fraud are restituted where possible, and we will continue to do more,” he said.
He warned the public to exercise caution in all of their online dealings as con artists scour the web in search of unsuspecting victims.
