[00:00:00] Speaker A: You know, there's a special kind of evil in pretending to love someone just to drain their life savings. And that's exactly what today's story is about.
Hey, I'm Miles. And this is behind the Scams, where we expose the grifters, the manipulators, and the professional heartbreakers behind America's most devastating scams.
In this episode, we're pulling back the curtain on a high stakes romance fraud ring led by a Nigerian national and his wife right here in the US A couple who stole millions from elderly victims across the country through fake love stories and false promises.
But this one ends a little differently than most because this time they got caught.
Let's get into it.
[00:00:49] Speaker B: Thank you, Miles. Hello, and welcome back to another episode of behind the Scams. I'm your host, Nick, and as always, I'm joined by my wife and co host, Sue.
[00:01:00] Speaker C: Thank you, Nick. As always, excited to be here.
[00:01:03] Speaker B: All right, Sue. Today we're diving into a case that really highlights the devastating impact of organized crime, especially when it targets vulnerable individuals. We're talking about a significant romance scam fraud operation prosecuted in the Southern District of Texas. I've obtained a copy of the federal indictment and have taken a deep dive into it.
[00:01:27] Speaker C: I know how much you love dissecting those federal indictments, Nick. I'm glad you love it. Because between the indictments and your former federal law enforcement experience, we can all learn something with insights from someone who has investigated these type of cases.
But. Oh, wow, this one sounds serious, Nick. So just who are the key players in this fraud ring?
[00:01:50] Speaker B: Well. Well, the main defendants in this particular indictment are Darlington Akparugo and Jasmine Sud, both residents of Houston, Texas.
They were central figures in this widespread criminal enterprise which operated within the Southern District of Texas and elsewhere.
[00:02:09] Speaker C: So ak, Perugo and Sud are the main players.
Got it. What exactly were they doing? I mean, what kind of fraud are we talking about here?
[00:02:17] Speaker B: This was primarily a romance scam operation, Sue. It's a classic but incredibly effective type of fraud.
The grand jury charges state that these defendants, along with others, were part of this fraud ring that operated not just in the Southern district of Texas, but across the entire United States.
Their primary objective was simply to trick victims into sending them money.
[00:02:44] Speaker C: Wow, that's surprising.
So they were reaching victims all over the country. And you said romance scams. How does that even work? That's crazy. How do people fall for that?
[00:02:55] Speaker B: It's truly heartbreaking, actually. The core objective of this ring was to trick victims into sending money directly to them or other members of the fraud ring. And a really critical detail here which makes this even more disgusting, if that was even possible.
But a common target for these scams were elderly persons.
[00:03:16] Speaker C: Oh no. Really? That makes it even worse. So these criminals, including OK Perugo and Sood, they deliberately targeted the elderly?
[00:03:23] Speaker B: Yes, unfortunately, the indictment specifically mentions that commonly those who fell prey to this fraud scheme were elderly persons.
They exploited their trust and perhaps, you know, a desire for companionship.
[00:03:39] Speaker C: That's just awful. So they would create these fake online identities. Sounds like the seeds of a classic romance scam. You know how it goes. They pretend to be someone they're not to build a relationship.
[00:03:52] Speaker B: Exactly, Sue. That's the textbook definition. A romance scam, as described in the indictment, is when criminals adopt fake online identities to gain a victim's affection and trust. Once that emotional connection is established, the scammer then uses the illusion of a close relationship to induce the victim under false pretenses to send money. It's a long con, often playing on loneliness or a desire for love.
[00:04:22] Speaker C: It sounds incredibly manipulative. I mean, they must be very good at it to convince people to send money. What was the scale of this operation in terms of like, how many victims or how much money was was involved?
[00:04:35] Speaker B: The numbers are quite staggering, actually. Between approximately 2015 and 2022, which is quite a long time frame, the defendants defrauded over a dozen victims.
And the total losses from these romance scams? A shocking $3,123,073.
[00:04:57] Speaker C: Oh, wow, I didn't know that. Over $3 million. That's an unbelievable amount of money.
[00:05:03] Speaker B: So.
[00:05:04] Speaker C: So Okparugo and Sood were directly responsible for that entire amount, or were they part of a larger network?
[00:05:11] Speaker B: They were certainly key players, but it was part of a larger fraud ring.
The indictment says defendants individually and together with the fraud ring executed various mail and wire fraud schemes.
So while they were pulling the strings on many of these scams, it was often with the assistance of others known and unknown in this criminal conspiracy.
They were at the center of coordinating many of these fraudulent activities, Leveraging the illusion of these online relationships to drain victims life savings.
[00:05:47] Speaker C: So it wasn't just them, but they were definitely the main orchestrators. And mail and wire fraud, were these primarily online interactions or did they involve physical mail as well?
[00:05:59] Speaker B: Both, actually. The indictment explicitly mentions various mail and wire fraud schemes. This indicates they use both traditional postal services for things like sending checks and electronic communications like emails, texts and phone calls for the wire fraud aspect, Often directing victims to transfer funds to electronically.
We'll delve into the specifics of how they did that with individual victims in a bit.
[00:06:30] Speaker C: Okay, so it was a multifaceted approach. That's good to know. It really paints a picture of a sophisticated, widespread operation.
[00:06:39] Speaker B: Okay, so now that we've set the stage for the overall operation, let's dive into the heartbreaking details of one specific victim. Victim up, a 75 year old widow from Houston, Texas.
Her story really illustrates the devastating impact of these romance scams. Before we start our deep dive, I wanted to just explain that it is common practice in indictments, search warrants, and other court related documents, victims are not openly named. They are often referred to by a pseudonym or by initials.
This is for obvious reasons such as to hide their identity or protect their privacy.
[00:07:23] Speaker C: That makes perfect sense. Okay, Nick, I'm already bracing myself. What happened to Victim Up? How did she get entangled in this?
[00:07:31] Speaker B: So in or around 2019, Victim up was contacted by multiple online Personas.
One of the first significant contacts, specifically in December 2019, happened on match.com this person stated their name was Abelard Wolf.
[00:07:54] Speaker C: Match.com so they were specifically targeting dating sites and trolling for potential victims. That's so deceitful. Preying on people, looking for connection, looking for love.
[00:08:07] Speaker B: Absolutely. Wolf quickly led Victim up to believe they were in an online romance, communicating through email, text messages and phone calls. He told her he loved her and would even move to Texas to be with her. He claimed to be the owner of Abelard Wolf Maritime and said he worked and lived aboard an oil rig in Canada.
[00:08:29] Speaker C: Wow, that's surprising. An oil rig in Canada and he's going to move to Texas for her? That's quite a story. Did she ever meet this Abelard Wolf in person?
[00:08:39] Speaker B: No. The indictment doesn't mention any in person meetings with Wolf.
This is a key characteristic of these romance scams. They keep the relationship online, preventing the victim from realizing the person isn't real.
Wolf then introduced Victim up to another online Persona, Annette Gibson, claiming Gibson was his assistant.
[00:09:03] Speaker C: Of course, the assistant.
So now there are two of them. What happened next? Did they immediately start asking for money?
[00:09:10] Speaker B: Not immediately, but it didn't take long. Starting in January 2020 and continuing through December 2022. So for almost three years, Wolf, Gibson and others frequently requested, pressured and directed Victim up to transfer large sums of money to various third parties.
The reasons given were always false and fictitious.
[00:09:36] Speaker C: Oh, no. Really? For three years? That's an incredibly long time to keep someone hooked. What kind of false and fictitious reasons were they giving? Was it always emergencies or how did they keep the story going?
[00:09:51] Speaker B: The document doesn't go into the specific reasons for Wolf and Gibson at this point, but generally, in romance scams, it's often a series of manufactured crises.
Medical emergencies, business problems, travel issues, customs fees. Anything that requires an urgent injection of cash, always with the promise of repayment or a Future together.
And VictimUp tragically complied with these requests.
[00:10:23] Speaker C: And how much did she end up losing to Wolf, Gibson, and their associates?
[00:10:27] Speaker B: The total fraudulent payments to unknown third parties at the direction of Wolf, Gibson and others totaled $644,100.
[00:10:38] Speaker C: $644,000. That's absolutely devastating. Just from Wolf and Gibson alone, how did they manage to extract that much? What psychological tactics are at play here to keep someone sending money for so long?
[00:10:54] Speaker B: It's a very calculated process, Sue.
First, they establish that deep emotional connection, making the victim feel loved and special.
Then they isolate the victim from friends and family who might warn them. They create a sense of urgency and obligation, making the victim feel like they're helping someone they care deeply about.
And when the victim starts to have doubts, the scammers use guilt trips, emotional blackmail, or renewed promises of a future together to keep them sending money. It's an incremental process.
They start small, build trust, and then the requests get larger.
[00:11:36] Speaker C: That's truly heartbreaking. It's not just about the money. It's the emotional abuse, too.
So was Abelard Wolf the only fake Persona involved, or did others come into play?
[00:11:48] Speaker B: There was another significant one. In or About August or September 2021, Victim up began communicating via telephone and text message with an individual who stated his name was Patrick Morton.
[00:12:01] Speaker C: Wait, hold on. So after getting reeled in by Abelard Wolf, she then starts a new connection with Patrick Morton? Was this a separate scam, or was it somehow related?
[00:12:12] Speaker B: It appears to be related and part of the same broader fraud ring operation. Continuing the pattern of emotional manipulation, Victim up engaged in conversations with Morton and eventually believed she had a romantic online relationship with him, just like with Wolf.
[00:12:33] Speaker C: Oh, wow. I didn't know that. So they essentially had multiple people working different angles. Or perhaps one person pretending to be multiple Personas.
What was Morton's story?
[00:12:44] Speaker B: Morton also spun a tale of needing money. He told Victim UP that he needed funds to travel to and from the United States, and even more tragically, that his son had died and he needed money to get his son's body back to the US From South America.
[00:13:04] Speaker C: Oh, my goodness. That's just despicable. Using something as simple, as sensitive as a child's Death to manipulate someone. That truly is an extreme level of emotional exploitation. What did Victim up do?
[00:13:19] Speaker B: She unfortunately believed him. And this is where the direct involvement of the defendants Akbarugo and Sud becomes even clearer.
In or About August or September 2021, Morton introduced Akperugo to Victim up as Morton's assistant.
[00:13:40] Speaker C: An assistant? This is getting complicated. So Morton has an assistant and that assistant is one of the defendants?
[00:13:47] Speaker B: Precisely. And Akbarugo didn't just stay online.
The indictment states that Akbarugo subsequently approached Victim up in person. He would drive her to stores, banks, and even pick up money and checks from her periodically.
[00:14:03] Speaker C: In person?
That's incredibly bold.
So the scammers moved from purely online interactions to direct physical contact with the victim.
This must have made it feel even more real and legitimate to Victim Up.
[00:14:20] Speaker B: It absolutely would have. It adds another layer of deception and reinforces the illusion of a genuine connection and need.
And it gets even more direct. On one of the occasions when Akperugo picked up and drove Victim up to stores or banks or picked up money from her, Jasmine, Sud and Sud's daughter were present in the car.
[00:14:43] Speaker C: You're kidding me. Sud and her daughter were there? That's crazy. How brazen can you be? And Sood is the other main defendant, right? Was she introduced as well?
[00:14:53] Speaker B: Yes, Jasmine. Suddenly, the other main defendant was presented to Victim up as Akparugo's wife and as working in the beauty supply business.
So it wasn't just Akporugo involved in these in person interactions, but Sood as well. Presenting a seemingly normal, trustworthy family facade.
[00:15:16] Speaker C: Unbelievable. So they bring their family into it to make it look even more legitimate. That's a whole new level of psychological manipulation. It's one thing to create a fake online Persona, but to then meet someone in person, involve other family members and pick up money directly, that must have been incredibly convincing for Victimup.
[00:15:40] Speaker B: It truly speaks to the sophistication and calculated nature of their fraud. They weren't just running a distant online operation.
They inserted themselves directly into Victim Up's life, making her feel like these were real people with real needs, solidifying the illusion of the romance and the urgency of their requests.
[00:16:01] Speaker C: And I imagine this direct contact, you know, makes it even harder for the victim to break free or suspect anything, because it feels so much more real. It truly speaks to the sophistication and calculated nature of their fraud.
They weren't just running a distant online operation. They inserted themselves directly into Victim Yup's life, making her feel like these were real people. With real needs solidifying the illusion of the romance and the urgency of their requests.
[00:16:32] Speaker B: Exactly. And this is where it gets even more direct and, frankly, audacious. The indictment reveals how Darlington Akperugo and Jasmine sue sued directly benefited from Victim Up's losses, not just through the fake Personas, but through very tangible means. Oh, wow.
[00:16:51] Speaker C: I didn't know that it got that direct.
How did they manage to do that? Did they, like, have her send money to their personal accounts?
[00:16:59] Speaker B: Well, for starters, Wolf actually directed Victim up to mail a check, check number 1065, for $7,800 to a Nancy Milton at a specific address in Richmond, Texas.
This address was AK Perugo's and Sood's residential address.
[00:17:19] Speaker C: Wait, hold on. Are you saying they actually had her mail a physical check directly to their home address?
That's crazy. How brazen can you be? And who was Nancy Milton?
[00:17:29] Speaker B: Yeah, I know it sounds unbelievable, but scammers are incredibly convincing. Nancy Milton was an alias. Akparugo fraudulently controlled a BB&T bank account under that name. Account number X8761.
So when victim up mailed that check, it was deposited directly into an account controlled by Akbarugo.
[00:17:52] Speaker C: That's just. Wow. So the money was literally going to their doorstep. In a way. What other direct financial benefits did they see from Victim Up?
[00:18:02] Speaker B: It didn't stop there. The indictment details payments made directly to a business called Pretty Inchez, LLC.
In November 2021, Victim up issued a personal check for $10,000 to Pretty Inches LLC.
Then, in June 2022, Akbarugo and Sud themselves caused Victim up to issue two Wells Fargo cashiers checks to Pretty Inches, LLC for $10,000 and $17,000, respectively.
[00:18:37] Speaker C: Pretty Inches, LLC. That sounds like a legitimate business name. Was it? Or was this another shell company?
[00:18:43] Speaker B: Great question, Sue. According to the indictment, Pretty Inches LLC is a business owned by Jasmine Sud in Houston, Texas.
So, yes, a real business, but used for fraudulent purposes to launder the stolen money.
[00:19:00] Speaker C: Unbelievable. So she's literally running a business that's facilitating these scams. That's a whole different level of involvement. And you mentioned gold earlier, didn't you? What was that about?
[00:19:13] Speaker B: That's right.
Between January and February of 2022, Akbarugo deceived victim up into giving him at least 37 gold coins and. And two gold bars.
These were valued at over $50,000.
[00:19:30] Speaker C: Gold.
Like, physical gold coins and bars.
How do you even.
How do you ask someone for their gold that's so specific and incredibly valuable?
Was she convinced it was for Morton Or Wolf.
[00:19:46] Speaker B: The document states she was deceived by materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations and promises made by Akparugo.
It's likely these requests were woven into the ongoing fabricated narratives of Morton's or Wolf's supposed financial needs or investment opportunities. It just shows how deep the manipulation went.
[00:20:12] Speaker C: That's absolutely wild. And what about the unauthorized credit card usage you hinted at? That sounds like a whole other crime on top of everything else.
[00:20:22] Speaker B: It absolutely is.
From around September 2021 through June 2022, Akbarugo obtained, used or gained unauthorized access to victim ups JP Morgan Chase Credit Card, her US bank credit card and her Wells Fargo bank account.
[00:20:40] Speaker C: Oh, wow. So it wasn't just cash and checks or gold, but direct access to her banking and credit. That's horrifying.
[00:20:47] Speaker B: Exactly. During this period, Akparugo and Sud caused at least $78,080 to be charged or debited from Victim Up's bank and credit card accounts without her consent.
[00:21:03] Speaker C: $78,000. That's just pure theft.
So they moved from online manipulation to in person meetings using a real business, taking physical gold and then directly accessing her financial accounts. It's a complete spiral of exploitation.
[00:21:21] Speaker B: It truly is, Sue. And when you look at the total picture for victim up, between May 2021 and July 2022 alone, she was defrauded of an approximate grand total of $1,020,400.99.
[00:21:40] Speaker C: Over a million dollars from one victim. That is just. I'm speechless.
[00:21:45] Speaker B: And of that staggering amount, Akbarugo and Sud directly benefited from a total of $404,680.44. This was their cut, their direct proceeds from her victimization.
[00:22:01] Speaker C: $400,000. That really puts into perspective how much these individuals are. Akparugo and Sood were directly, personally benefiting from the pain and financial ruin of Victim up.
It makes the entire scheme feel so much more calculated and cold hearted when you realize how hands on they were.
[00:22:23] Speaker B: It truly is, Sue. And that level of direct benefit is something we see recur in their other schemes, often with new layers of deception added to try and legitimize the illicit gains.
[00:22:36] Speaker C: So they kept refining their methods, making it harder and harder for victims to see the red flags or for authorities to trace the money.
[00:22:45] Speaker B: Precisely. And that brings us to Victim lp, another individual who sadly fell prey to this elaborate network.
Victim LP was a 77 year old widow residing in Montana. In July 2019, she was contacted via Facebook by someone calling himself Barry Hunt.
[00:23:06] Speaker C: Oh, another online romance scam. I'm guessing same playbook, different name.
[00:23:10] Speaker B: You got it. Hunt claimed to be an oil rig engineer, just like Wolf. In Victim Up's case, he built an online romance with Victim LP through Facebook, emails, texts and phone calls. And predictably, they never met in person.
[00:23:29] Speaker C: That's the classic setup. So he started asking for money. Right? For work related issues or some fabricated emergency.
[00:23:35] Speaker B: Exactly.
Hunt began asking Victim LP for money for supposed financial issues related to his employment. And get this, to facilitate a visit with his daughter, whom he hadn't seen in two years.
Victim lp, believing his story, agreed to send the money.
[00:23:55] Speaker C: Oh, no. Really? The daughter card again? That's just so manipulative. Pulling on heartstrings like that. What was different about how they handled the money this time? Did they use Nancy Milton again?
[00:24:08] Speaker B: Not exactly. This is where Akperugo and Sud introduced another layer of sophistication. A shell company. The indictment states that around January 26, 2019, Akbarugo and or Sud, aiding and abetting each other, filed documents with the Texas Secretary of State to create a shell company called Drugos Enterprises llc.
[00:24:33] Speaker C: Drugos Enterprises llc? Wow, that's a whole new level of elaborate. So they created a fake business just to run their scam money through?
[00:24:42] Speaker B: That's precisely what they did. Sue Akparugo was listed as managing member number one. And Sood was listed as organizer and registered agent for Drugos Enterprises llc.
And the address provided for this company? It was on Summit Cliff Court, Richmond, Texas, which you might recall, is also Akparugos and Sud's residential address.
[00:25:09] Speaker C: Wait, they use their own home address for a shell company that was receiving stolen money?
How did they think that was going to fly? That's incredibly risky and frankly, arrogant.
[00:25:22] Speaker B: I know, right? It speaks to their confidence, or perhaps arrogance, in evading detection. And it gets more specific. On May 8, 2019, OK, Perugo opened a Capital One bank account in the name of Drugos Enterprises llc.
And he maintained sole signatory authority over that account.
[00:25:43] Speaker C: So the company was essentially his. Designed to funnel money Right into an account he controlled. That's clever in a terrible way. But how did Victim LP actually send money to this Drugos Enterprises LLC?
[00:26:00] Speaker B: Well, on August 5, 2019, Hunt directed Victim LP to withdraw $85,000 from her Valley bank of Helena account.
She did so via a cashier's check made payable to Drugos Enterprises LLC.
[00:26:15] Speaker C: $85,000. That's a huge sum. And she wrote it directly to this fake company?
[00:26:21] Speaker B: Yes. And Hunt then provided instructions for Victim LP to send that cashier's check via Federal Express courier to, you guessed it, Summitcliffe Court, Richmond, Texas.
[00:26:35] Speaker C: Oh wow. So it's the same residential address again. That's just. It's like they weren't even trying to hide it on that front. And I assume that $85,000 ended up in Akperugo's controlled account?
[00:26:49] Speaker B: That's absolutely correct.
The very next day, August 6, 2019, that cashier's check for $85,000 was deposited directly into the Capital One bank account in the name of Drugos Enterprises llc, the one owned and controlled by Akbarugo.
[00:27:09] Speaker C: That's just incredible. So the shell company served as this seemingly legitimate front, convincing victims that they were sending money to a business, maybe for an investment, but in reality it was just going straight into the scammers pockets. It's a way to try and distance themselves from the direct personal receipt of funds, isn't it?
[00:27:33] Speaker B: Exactly. It gives the illusion of a legitimate business transaction, making the victim believe they're participating in something professional, Perhaps an investment in the oil rig business Hunt claimed to own.
This added layer made it much harder for victims to recognize it as a personal transfer to a scammer.
It was about creating a false sense of security and legitimacy around the money movement itself.
[00:28:02] Speaker C: I mean, that's really smart in a criminal sense. If someone tells you to send money to an individual, that raises more red flags than sending money to a business, even a fake one. It makes you wonder how many other victims might have been funneling money into Drugos Enterprises and LLC or other similar fake businesses.
[00:28:24] Speaker B: That's a very good point, Sue. The indictment focuses on specific instances, but it's highly probable that this was a common tactic. The shell company serves as a conduit, a way to launder the money and make it appear as if it came from legitimate business activities rather than direct fraud.
[00:28:44] Speaker C: And it also complicates the the tracing of funds, I imagine. Making it harder for law enforcement to follow the money trail if it's disguised as business income, absolutely.
[00:28:55] Speaker B: It adds a layer of obfuscation while law enforcement eventually caught on.
Setting up these entities makes the investigation more complex.
It's a common tactic in organized fraud because it gives the illusion of a legitimate business operation.
[00:29:14] Speaker C: So to summarize, they've got fake online Personas, direct mail to their home, using a legitimate business owned by Sud and then creating a shell company owned by OK Perugo. It's like they were constantly diversifying their methods of extraction and legitimization.
[00:29:34] Speaker B: You could say they were each new victim, each new sum of money potentially led to new tactics or or new layers of disguise to continue their operation and evade detection.
It shows a continuous evolving effort to refine their fraudulent enterprise. It truly is Sue. And that level of direct benefit is something we see recur in their other schemes, often with new layers of deception added to try and legitimize the illicit gains.
[00:30:07] Speaker C: So they kept refining their methods, making it harder and harder for victims to see the red flags. Or for authorities to trace the money.
[00:30:15] Speaker B: Precisely. And that brings us to Victim lp, another individual who sadly fell prey to this elaborate network. Victim LP was a 77 year old widow residing in Montana. In July 2019, she was contacted via Facebook by someone calling himself Barry Hunt.
[00:30:37] Speaker C: Oh, another online romance scam, I'm guessing. Same playbook, different name.
[00:30:41] Speaker B: You got it. Hunt claimed to be an oil rig engineer, just like Wolf. In victim Up's case, he built an online romance with Victim LP through Facebook, emails, texts and phone calls. And predictably, they never met in person.
[00:30:59] Speaker C: That's the classic setup. So he started asking for money. Right? For work related issues or some fabricated emergency.
[00:31:06] Speaker B: Exactly.
Hunt began asking Victim LP for money for supposed financial issues related to his employment. And get this. To facilitate a visit with his daughter, whom he hadn't seen in two years.
Victim lp, believing his story, agreed to send the money.
[00:31:27] Speaker C: Oh no. Really? What was different about how they handled the money this time? Did they use Nancy Milton again?
[00:31:34] Speaker B: Not exactly. They used the shell company they created called Drugos Enterprises llc.
[00:31:39] Speaker C: Drugos Enterprises LLC again, wow. They essentially created this fake LLC just to run their scam money through. Basically a means to launder money, right?
[00:31:49] Speaker B: That's precisely what they did.
[00:31:51] Speaker C: These geniuses used their own home address for their LLC to receive stolen money. They are just making the job for financial investigators such as yourself, Nick, a lot easier to follow the funds. You know, follow the funds right to their house. Nice. And thank you very much. Scammers.
[00:32:10] Speaker B: I know, right? It speaks to their confidence, or perhaps arrogance in evading detection.
And it gets more specific.
On May 8, 2019, Akperugo opened a Capital One bank account in the name of Drugos Enterprises llc.
And he maintained sole signatory authority over that account.
[00:32:33] Speaker C: So the company was essentially his. Designed to funnel money right into an account he controlled. That's clever in a terrible way. But how did Victim LP actually save send money to this Drugos Enterprises LLC?
[00:32:48] Speaker B: Well, on August 5, 2019, Hunt directed Victim LP to withdraw $85,000 from her Valley bank of Helena account. She did so via a cashier's check. Made payable to Drugos Enterprises LLC.
[00:33:07] Speaker C: $85,000. That's a huge sum. And she wrote it directly to this fake company?
[00:33:13] Speaker B: Yes. And Hunt then provided instructions for victim LP to send that cashier's check via Federal Express courier to, you guessed it, Summit Cliff Court, Richmond, Texas.
[00:33:27] Speaker C: Oh, wow. So it's the same residential address again. That's just. It's like they weren't even trying to hide it on that front. And I assume that $85,000 ended up in OK, Perugo's controlled account?
[00:33:41] Speaker B: That's absolutely correct.
The very next day, August 6, 2019, that cashier's check for $85,000 was deposited directly into the Capital One bank account in the name of Drugos Enterprises llc, the one owned and controlled by Akperugo.
[00:34:03] Speaker C: That's just incredible. So the shell company served as this seemingly legitimate front, convincing victims that they were sending money to a business, maybe for an investment, but in reality, it was just going straight into the scammers pockets. It's a way to try and distance themselves from the direct personal receipt of funds, isn't it?
[00:34:27] Speaker B: It sure is. It gives the illusion of a legitimate business transaction and making the victim believe they're participating in something professional. Perhaps an investment in the oil rig business Hunt claimed to own. This added layer made it much harder for victims to recognize it as a personal transfer to a scammer. It was about creating a false sense of security and legitimacy around the money movement itself.
[00:34:54] Speaker C: I mean, that's somewhat smart from the scammer standpoint, because if someone, someone tells you to send money to an individual, that raises more red flags than sending money to a business, even a fake one. It makes you wonder how many other victims might have been funneling money into Drugos Enterprises LLC or other similar fake businesses. But using a home address for the LLC is not the smartest criminal move ever displayed. In fact, it's just plain stupid.
[00:35:26] Speaker B: That's a very good point, Sue. The indictment focuses on specific instances, but it's highly probable that this was a common tactic. The shell company serves as a conduit, a way to launder the money and make it appear as if it came from legitimate business activities rather than direct fraud.
[00:35:46] Speaker C: And it also complicates the tracing of funds, I imagine. Making it harder for law enforcement to follow the money trail if it's disguised as business income.
[00:35:56] Speaker B: Absolutely. It adds a layer of concealment while law enforcement eventually caught on. Setting up these entities makes the investigation more complex. It's a common tactic in organized fraud because it gives the Illusion of a legitimate business operation.
[00:36:13] Speaker C: So, to summarize, they've got fake online Personas, direct mail to their home, using a legitimate business owned by Sud, and then creating a shell company owned by Akparugo. It's like they were constantly diversifying their methods of extraction and legitimization.
[00:36:32] Speaker B: You could say they were.
Each new victim, each new sum of money potentially led to new tactics or new layers of disguise to continue their operation and evade detection.
It shows a continuous evolving effort to refine their fraudulent enterprise. Each new victim, each new sum of money potentially led to new tactics or new layers of disguise to continue their operation and evade detection.
It shows a continuous evolving effort to refine their fraudulent enterprise.
[00:37:05] Speaker C: It really does, Nick, and it's chilling to think about. I imagine these weren't the only victims either, given how organized this fraud ring was.
[00:37:14] Speaker B: Unfortunately, you're right, Sue.
The indictment provides details on a few specific victims to illustrate the pattern. And that's what we'll dive into next by briefly touching on Victim RK and Victim JL further demonstrating just how consistent and planned out their methods were.
[00:37:34] Speaker C: Okay, so more examples of the same pattern, but I'm curious to see if there are any new twists. Let's hear about victim RK.
[00:37:42] Speaker B: So in or around 2015, victim RK was a 75 year old California resident. She was contacted on a social media platform by an individual who identified themselves as Carl Davis. Much like the previous cases, Carl and Victim RK built an online romance through emails and telephone calls. They never met in person, of course.
[00:38:08] Speaker C: Another online romance. It's truly heartbreaking how they exploit loneliness and the desire for connection. Did Carl also have a conveniently needy family member?
[00:38:20] Speaker B: Oh, absolutely. A person identifying herself as Carl's daughter, Lisa Davis also started contacting Victim RK around the same time.
Both Carl and Lisa expressed how much Carl loved and cared for Victim RK and wanted her to be part of the family.
[00:38:40] Speaker C: That's just. Wow. It's the same emotional manipulation again. They really go for the jugular, don't they?
So what was the business venture this time? The oil rig again, I'm guessing.
[00:38:52] Speaker B: You guessed it.
Carl claimed he worked on and owned an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Mexico. And suggested Victim RK invest in his oil rig business.
Both Lisa and Carl promised her monetary returns on her investment and full repayment.
[00:39:10] Speaker C: Oh, wow. I didn't know that. The oil rig business seems to be a recurring theme for them. It's almost like a script they just reuse. Did they use another shell company or did Money go directly to OkPR, Perugo or Sud.
[00:39:26] Speaker B: It's uncanny how repetitive these elements are, isn't it?
In this case, Carl instructed Victim RK to send funds via bank wire transfers to various third party beneficiaries, claiming they were accounts belonging to business associates, equipment suppliers or investor relations representatives.
[00:39:48] Speaker C: So not a direct transfer to an individual, but still. Still to accounts tied to the scheme. That sounds like a way to make it seem more legitimate. Like a real business transaction.
[00:39:59] Speaker B: Sue, I think we have made a money laundering investigator out of you. Because that's precisely right. And here's where Sud's direct involvement comes into play again, on or about September 7, 2018, Jasmine Sud opened a Wells Fargo account in the name of Beauteous Body llc, over which she maintained sole signatory authority.
[00:40:21] Speaker C: Beauteous Body llc? Wait, isn't that the beauty supply business that Sood was associated with, which we heard about earlier? With Victim up?
That's crazy. How do people fall for that? It sounds so obvious now.
[00:40:36] Speaker B: It's easy to say it sounds obvious in hindsight, Sue. But remember, by this point, the victims are under immense emotional duress, and they've built what they believe is a deep, loving relationship. And the scammers are incredibly convincing. They often use high pressure tactics.
[00:40:56] Speaker C: That's true. It's the emotional investment that blinds them. So victim RK's money ended up in Beauteous Body LLC?
[00:41:05] Speaker B: Yes. On January 11, 2019, based on the false pretenses made by Carl and Lisa, Victim RK initiated a wire transfer of $30,000 from her JP Morgan Chase bank account to that Wells Fargo bank account in the name of Beauteous Body LLC that Sood controlled.
[00:41:26] Speaker C: Wow. So Sood was directly benefiting again from these wire transfers. Just like she did with Victim UP and those checks to Pretty Inches llc, Inc. It's the same playbook with different company names and different victims.
[00:41:42] Speaker B: Exactly. And between 2015 and 2021, victim RK was tricked into sending approximately $400,000 to various fraudulently owned bank accounts in the possession and control of Sud, Akparugo, or other known and unknown co conspirators.
[00:42:04] Speaker C: $400,000?
That's just an astronomical amount. It's just so sad to see the same patterns repeating over and over.
[00:42:15] Speaker B: And it does repeat.
Let's move on to victim jl, who also fell prey to a very similar scheme.
In 2018, victim JL, who was also a widow, was contacted on Facebook by. By a person calling himself Kenny Howard.
[00:42:34] Speaker C: Kenny Howard. Another alias, same platform. I'm sensing a pattern Here, Nick. Did Howard also claim to be an oil rig worker?
[00:42:42] Speaker B: Wow, you're on a roll, Sue.
Indeed.
Howard claimed to be working on an oil rig. Over a period of months, victim JL And Howard communicated via email and telephone, developing an online romance.
[00:42:59] Speaker C: Of course, they never met in person. And then came the financial requests, probably for unexpected expenses related to his employment or some family emergency. Am I right?
[00:43:11] Speaker B: You are absolutely right.
Howard began asking victim JL to send money for unexpected expenses related to his employment and family matters. Victim JL Agreed and sent Howard the funds he requested over several months.
[00:43:27] Speaker C: Oh, that's just heart wrenching. It's the same tactics, right down to the family matters and employment expenses. It highlights how consistent and well rehearsed these scams are. So how did the money flow in this case? Any shell companies or direct transfers to our defendants?
[00:43:43] Speaker B: Victim JL Was instructed to send payments to multiple third party beneficiaries. And notably, that included two payments directly to AKP Perugo.
[00:43:53] Speaker C: Wait, direct payments to AK Perugo? That's not even bothering with a shell company or a business front. That's just bold.
[00:44:01] Speaker B: It is.
On December 13, 2018, Akbarugo opened a JP Morgan Chase personal checking account in his own name, Darlington Akbarugo. And he was the only authorized signatory.
[00:44:17] Speaker C: So a personal account this time, making it even more direct. And Victim JL wired money to. To his personal account?
[00:44:24] Speaker B: Yes.
On September 17, 2019, based on Howard's false pretenses, Victim JL initiated a wire transfer of $18,500 from her SunTrust bank account to that JP Morgan Chase account controlled and owned by AK Perugo.
[00:44:46] Speaker C: $18,500 just directly into his account. That's unbelievable.
[00:44:50] Speaker B: And it wasn't the only one. On February 7, 2020, victim JL initiated another wire transfer for $14860 from her SunTrust bank account to an FCCU account, which was also controlled and owned by AK Perugo.
[00:45:09] Speaker C: So he had multiple accounts open in his own name, just waiting for victims to wire money into them. It's not even trying to hide it at that point.
[00:45:19] Speaker B: It's a clear demonstration of their direct involvement and how they integrated personal accounts into their larger scheme. Between 2018 and 2020, victim J.L. was ultimately tricked by Howard into sending a total of $910,900 to fraudulently owned bank accounts.
[00:45:39] Speaker C: $910,000. That is just an absolutely staggering amount. It's incredible how much these victims lost. It really shows the sheer scale of this operation and how effective these scammers were at Manipulating people.
[00:45:56] Speaker B: It truly is devastating, Sue. When you look across victim up, victim lp, victim RK and victim jl, you see a very consistent, calculated pattern.
The online romance, the oil rig investment story, the urgent financial needs, the family member in distress, and then the rooting of funds through a mix of personal accounts, shell companies, and even legitimate sounding businesses tied directly to OK Perugo.
[00:46:28] Speaker C: It's almost like they had a template, a fraud playbook. They followed the recurring elements.
The fake Personas, the oil rig, the daughter in need. They all point to a highly organized, repeated set of deceptive tactics. It makes you wonder how many times they ran the exact same script.
[00:46:49] Speaker B: It suggests that once they found a tactic that worked, they iterated on it, slightly changing the names or the specific reasons for the money, but keeping the core manipulation intact.
This consistency made their operation efficient, but ultimately it also provided law enforcement with a clear pattern to follow.
[00:47:12] Speaker C: And that's what ultimately led to their downfall. Right. The very patterns they used to scam people became the evidence against them.
[00:47:20] Speaker B: It certainly did, Sue. The very patterns that made their scheme efficient also left a clear trail for the authorities.
And that brings us to the legal reckoning for Darlington Akporugo and Jasmine Sud.
[00:47:34] Speaker C: Finally, some justice. Or at least the start of it. What exactly were they charged with, Nick? It sounds like it must be a long list given the scale of their operation.
[00:47:45] Speaker B: It is quite a list, and it reflects the severity and complexity of their actions. The indictment includes several serious charges.
First off, they were charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, which is count one. This essentially covers the entire overarching scheme we've been discussing. The fraud ring working together to defraud victims using both mail and wire communications.
[00:48:16] Speaker C: So that's like the umbrella charge encompassing all the different scams they ran because it ties to the fraud fraud ring concept.
[00:48:24] Speaker B: Precisely. And then there are specific wire fraud counts numbered from two through six.
These charges detail individual instances where they used wire communications like bank transfers as part of their fraudulent scheme. For example, count two specifically mentions Jasmine sued receiving that $30,000 wire transfer from victim RK into the beauteous Body LLC account.
[00:48:52] Speaker C: Oh, wow. So those aren't just general charges. They pinpoint specific transactions, like the $49,000 wire from MQ into Akparugo's account. Or the $18,500 from JL to Akperugo, which we just discussed.
[00:49:11] Speaker B: Exactly. Each of those transfers we mentioned for victims RK and JL specifically corresponds to one of these wire fraud counts against Ach, Perugo or Sud, demonstrating the direct financial flow from the victims to them.
It really solidifies the case against them by showing these concrete instances.
[00:49:34] Speaker C: That makes sense. It's one thing to talk about the scheme generally, but it's another to see the specific financial trails. Where there any other charges beyond the fraud, like related to the personal information they might have taken?
[00:49:49] Speaker B: Great question, Sue. Yes, there absolutely were. AK Perugo specifically was charged with aggravated identity theft, which is count seven. This charge states that from May 2021 through June 2022, he knowingly possessed, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person, specifically a debit card account number assigned to Victim up.
He knew it was a means of identification for an actual person and used it in relation to the conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.
[00:50:28] Speaker C: Oh no. Really? He had Victim up's debit card number?
Wow, that's surprising.
I mean, it's not surprising that he did it, but that it was a separate charge. That's just another layer of invasion, isn't it?
[00:50:43] Speaker B: It is, and it shows the depth of their deception, moving beyond just manipulating funds to directly exploiting personal financial identifiers.
Furthermore, Akbarugo was also charged with fraud in connection with access devices, which is count eight. This refers to him knowingly using one or more unauthorized access devices, again likely related to victim up's credit and debit cards, to obtain at least $1,000 in value during a one year period.
[00:51:18] Speaker C: So not only were they taking money directly, but they were also actively using the victim's financial information for their own benefit. That's truly audacious. What does all of this mean for them if they're convicted? And what about the victims? Will they ever see their money again?
[00:51:37] Speaker B: Well, the indictment also includes a notice of criminal forfeiture.
This is a significant aspect.
It states that in the event of conviction for any of these offenses, the United States intends to seek forfeiture of all property, whether real or personal, that was involved in or traceable to the offense.
[00:52:01] Speaker C: So they're going after all the money and assets that ok, Perugo and SUD gained from these crimes. That's good news for the victims, right? Does this mean they'll get their money back?
[00:52:11] Speaker B: That's the intent, yes. The forfeiture provision means the government will seek to seize any assets derived from or used in the commission of these crimes. This could include bank account balances, property purchased with scam proceeds, and so on. The goal is to return these funds to the victims if possible.
However, the process of victim restitution can be complex and depends on what assets are actually recovered. And how much they amount to.
[00:52:45] Speaker C: That makes sense. It's not always a straightforward process, but at least there's a mechanism in place to try and make the victims whole.
So if they are convicted, what kind of sentences are we looking at for these types of federal charges?
[00:53:01] Speaker B: Federal charges like wire fraud and aggravated identity theft carry substantial penalties.
Wire fraud alone can result in up to 20 years in prison.
And if it affects a financial institution or involves a major disaster, it can go up to 30 years.
Aggravated identity theft separately carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years, meaning it's added on top of any other sentence.
So the potential for significant prison time is very real for Akbarugo and Sud.
[00:53:39] Speaker C: Wow, that's serious. It sounds like the legal system is really throwing the book at them, which is exactly what these kinds of fraudsters deserve. It's a small comfort, but knowing that they face such severe consequences might deter others.
[00:53:57] Speaker B: That's the hope, Sue. The combination of these charges and the forfeiture notice sends a clear message that these types of orientations, organized romance scams, especially those targeting vulnerable individuals, will be aggressively prosecuted. The legal system aims not only to punish, but also to make victims whole and deter future criminal activity. The very patterns that made their scheme efficient also left a clear trail for the authorities.
The use of an actual home address in a money laundering scheme is an actual gift for both investigators and prosecutors.
[00:54:36] Speaker C: You know, Nick, it is so nice to do podcast episodes like this where we can demonstrate that something is being done by US Law enforcement to combat scammers.
[00:54:46] Speaker B: You're right on the money with that, Sue.
Way too many times I hear, why bother reporting it? Nothing's going to be done. Or what are you guys doing about all these scams?
So that's why we here at Stamp Out Scams like to cover these federal indictments. It helps spread the word that scammers will be held accountable.
[00:55:07] Speaker C: That's fantastic, because we need more justice stories like this rather than, oh, they operate from Nigeria, so we can't get to them.
[00:55:16] Speaker B: Precisely. Now, Sue, I want to get into the R. Wire fraud counts numbered from two through six.
These charges detail individual instances where they used wire communications like bank transfers as part of their fraudulent scheme. For example, count two specifically mentions Jasmine Sud receiving that $30,000 wire transfer from victim RK into the beauteous Body LLC account.
[00:55:44] Speaker C: Oh, wow. So those aren't just general charges. They pinpoint specific transactions, like the $49,000 wire from MQ into AK Perugo's account or the $18,500 from JL to AK Perugo, which we just discussed.
[00:56:01] Speaker B: Exactly.
Each of those transfers we mentioned for victims RK and JL specifically corresponds to one of these wire fraud counts against Akperugo or sud, demonstrating the derailed direct financial flow from the victims to them.
It really solidifies the case against them by showing these concrete instances.
[00:56:24] Speaker C: That makes sense. It's one thing to talk about the scheme generally, but it's another to see the specific financial trails.
Were there any other charges beyond the fraud, like, related to the personal information they might have taken?
[00:56:38] Speaker B: Great question, Sue. Yes, there absolutely were.
Akporugo specifically was charged with aggravated identity theft, which is count seven. This charge states that from May 2021 through June 2022, he knowingly possessed, without lawful authority, a means of identification of another person.
Specifically a debit card account number assigned to Victim up.
He knew it was a means of identification for an actual person and used it in relation to the conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud.
[00:57:19] Speaker C: Oh, no. Really? He had VictimUp's debit card number? Wow, that's surprising. I mean, it's not surprising that he did it, but that it was a separate charge. That's just another layer of invasion, isn't it?
[00:57:32] Speaker B: It, it is. And it shows the depth of their deception, moving beyond just manipulating funds to directly exploiting personal financial identifiers.
Furthermore, Akporago was also charged with fraud in connection with access devices, which is count eight. This refers to him knowingly using one or more unauthorized access devices, again, likely related to victim up's credit and debit cards, to obtain at least $1,000 in value during a one year period.
[00:58:08] Speaker C: So not only were they taking money directly, but they were also actively using the victim's financial information for their own benefit. That's so brazen. What does all of this mean for them if they're convicted?
And what about the victims? Nick, you were involved in these types of investigations during your law enforcement career. Do you truly believe any of these victims will ever see their money again?
[00:58:36] Speaker B: Well, as I mentioned previously, the indictment also includes a notice of criminal forfeiture.
This is a significant aspect. It states that in the event of conviction for any any of these offenses, the United States intends to seek forfeiture of all property, whether real or personal, that was involved in or traceable to the offense.
[00:59:01] Speaker C: So they're going after all the money and assets that Akparugo and SUD gained from these crimes.
That's good news for the victims, right? Does this mean they'll get their money back?
[00:59:12] Speaker B: That's the intent, yes. The forfeiture provision means the government will seek to seize any assets derived from or used in the commission of these crimes. This could include bank account balances, property purchased with scam proceeds, and so on. The goal is to return these funds to the victims, if possible.
However, the process of victim restitution can be complex and depends on what assets are actually recovered and how much they amount to.
Additionally, this process can take a very long time and does not occur until after the case has been fully adjudicated.
[00:59:52] Speaker C: That makes sense. It's not always a straightforward process, but at least there's a mechanism in place to try and make the victims whole.
So if they are convicted, what kind of sentences are we looking at for these types of federal charges?
[01:00:07] Speaker B: Federal charges like wire fraud and aggravated identity theft carry substantial penalties. Wire fraud alone can result in up to 20 years in prison. And if it affects a financial institution or involves a major disaster, it can go up to 30 years.
Aggravated identity theft separately carries a mandatory consecutive sentence of two years, meaning it's added on top of any other sentence.
So the potential for significant prison time is very real for Akperugo and Sud.
[01:00:44] Speaker C: Wow, that's serious. But I don't think anybody is crying any tears for these scammers. In fact, it's exactly what these kinds of fraudsters deserve. It's a small comfort, but knowing that they face such severe consequences might deter others.
[01:01:01] Speaker B: That's the hope, Sue. The combination of these charges and the forfeiture notice sends a clear message that these types of organized romance scams, especially those targeting vulnerable individuals, will be aggressively prosecuted. The legal system aims not only to punish, but also to make victims whole and deter future criminal activity.
[01:01:24] Speaker C: Well, for any naysayers out there who say law enforcement or the government is not, not doing enough, this case is a great example of justice in action.
[01:01:34] Speaker B: Exactly, Sue. And while the legal process is underway, it brings us to a crucial part of our discussion.
Understanding why people fall for these scams and what we can all do to protect ourselves and our loved ones. It's easy to look at these cases from the outside and think, how could anyone fall for that?
But it's far more complex than it seems.
[01:01:58] Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, you hear about these elaborate stories, the oil rigs, the sick children, the needing money to travel, and it just sounds so fantastical. But then you see how many people are affected, and for such large amounts. What is it about these romance scams particularly, that makes them so effective?
[01:02:19] Speaker B: It really boils down to psychological manipulation, Sue.
These scammers are masters of emotional exploitation.
They don't just ask for money. They build a relationship, often over weeks or months, creating a deep emotional bond. They listen, they empathize. They make the victim feel truly seen and loved, perhaps for the first time in a long time, especially for older widowed individuals.
[01:02:49] Speaker C: Like.
[01:02:49] Speaker B: Like victim up or lp.
[01:02:51] Speaker C: Oh, wow, I didn't know that. So it's not just a quick con. It's a long game of emotional grooming. And then they leverage that trust.
[01:03:00] Speaker B: Precisely. They use what's called love bombing, where they shower the victim with excessive affection, compliments, and attention very early on. This creates an intense artificial intimacy.
Then, once that emotional attachment is strong, they introduce the crisis. The sudden emergency, the business deal, the travel issue, the medical emergency, often involving a fabricated child or family member.
[01:03:31] Speaker C: That's crazy. How do people fall for that? I mean, specifically, why do elderly people seem to be targeted so often? And why are they particularly vulnerable?
[01:03:41] Speaker B: That's a really important question, and it's heartbreaking.
Often elderly individuals might be experiencing loneliness, especially if they've lost a spouse or are socially isolated. The Internet can seem like a wonderful new avenue for connection.
Scammers actively seek out these vulnerabilities on dating sites, social media, or even through random messages.
[01:04:08] Speaker C: So it's not just about financial vulnerability, but emotional vulnerability, too. And I guess maybe they might not be as digitally savvy, so they don't recognize the common online red flags as.
[01:04:21] Speaker B: Quickly you've hit on it.
A combination of emotional need, trust, and sometimes less familiarity with the evolving landscape of online threats can make them prime targets.
They might genuinely believe they've found a caring partner.
The scammers are also incredibly patient and persistent. They create a convincing narrative, often using stolen photos and profiles to appear legitimate.
[01:04:47] Speaker C: That makes so much sense. It's not just about being naive. It's about being preyed upon when you're looking for connection.
So what are the key red flags that listeners should be looking out for? For either for themselves or for their loved ones.
[01:05:03] Speaker B: The first and most critical red flag is if the person you're communicating with online never wants to meet in person, they'll always have an excuse. They're overseas.
They're on an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico, like Carl or Abelard Wolf, or they're in the military. They string you along with promises of meeting soon, but it never happens.
[01:05:29] Speaker C: Oh, that's a big one. And then I'm guessing the next big red flag is when they start asking for money, right?
[01:05:35] Speaker B: Bingo. That's the core of the scam. They'll ask for Money, but it's always for an emergency or a business venture or to cover travel expenses to finally come see you. They might ask for help paying medical bills for a sick relative or customs fees to release a package, or even to pay for investment in their lucrative oil rig business. As we saw with Victim rk, they create a sense of urgency and guilt, making the victim feel responsible.
[01:06:07] Speaker C: So, like, I need money for an emergency and I can't access my own funds because I'm on this oil rig in the middle of nowhere? That kind of thing?
[01:06:17] Speaker B: Exactly. And they'll specify how, how they want the money sent. Often wire transfers, gift cards, or even cash mailed in parcels like VictimUp did. These methods are hard to trace and virtually impossible to recover. Another huge red flag is if they profess intense love very quickly. It's too fast, too perfect.
[01:06:41] Speaker C: Yeah, like saying I love you after only a few messages. That should set off alarms. Are there other behavioral red flags to look out for?
[01:06:50] Speaker B: Definitely.
They often try to isolate the victim from friends and family who might suspect something. They'll say things like, your family doesn't understand our love, or, don't tell anyone about this. It's our secret.
And they always have an excuse why their webcam isn't working or why they can't video chat if you can't see them. That's a massive warning sign.
[01:07:14] Speaker C: That's really chilling. So beyond recognizing these red flags, what practical advice can we give our listeners to protect themselves or their elderly family members?
[01:07:25] Speaker B: Firstly, if you meet someone online, especially on a dating site or social media, do some research.
Do a reverse image search on their profile picture.
Scammers often use stock photos or pictures stolen from real people.
Look up their supposed employer or business. A quick search can reveal if the story is fake.
[01:07:48] Speaker C: So basically, vet them like you would anyone else you meet, but with a bit more scrutiny. Because it's online.
[01:07:53] Speaker B: Precisely. Secondly, never send money to someone you haven't met in person, especially if they are asking for it under urgent or dramatic circumstances.
No legitimate romantic partner will ever ask you for money to solve a personal crisis, no matter how convincing their story sounds or how much you feel you want to help. It's a scam.
[01:08:17] Speaker C: That's the golden rule, right? If they ask for money, it's a scam. And what about consulting others? Because sometimes when you're in it, it's hard to see the red flags yourself.
[01:08:28] Speaker B: That's a critical point. Sue. Talk to a trusted friend, family member, or even a financial advisor. Get an outside perspective. Scammers thrive on Secrecy. If your new online love interest discourages you from talking about them, that's a major warning. It's okay to be skeptical and to involve others.
[01:08:50] Speaker C: Yeah, get a second opinion. It's hard to be objective when your emotions are involved. What about setting up digital safeguards?
[01:08:56] Speaker B: Good point. Be wary of sharing too much personal information online, especially things like your address, where you bank, or details about your financial situation.
Use strong, unique passwords for all your accounts and enable two factor authentication wherever possible.
And remember, if someone tries to move your conversation off the dating app or social media platform very quickly to private email or text, that's a tactic to avoid the platform's security measures.
[01:09:28] Speaker C: So it really comes down to vigilance, skepticism, and not letting emotional urgency override common sense. It's a harsh lesson, but one that needs to be repeated.
[01:09:39] Speaker B: Also, it's crucial to remember that victims of these scams are not foolish.
They are often compassionate, empathetic individuals who are simply looking for connection.
The scammers are sophisticated criminals who prey on human emotions. If you or someone you know has been a victim, don't be ashamed. Report it to the authorities immediately. The FBI, the FTC and local law enforcement have resources to help.
[01:10:08] Speaker C: That's really important. Shame can keep victims silent when which only helps the scammers. So reaching out is key, right?
[01:10:16] Speaker B: These cases like the one against Akparugo and Sud, serve as stark reminders of how prevalent and devastating these crimes can be, but also how crucial it is for us to be informed and to protect ourselves and our communities. Also, cases like this one are fantastic tools for learning. These indictments are like road maps for how these scammers work and the heartless tactics they use.
So it is crucial that podcasts like behind the Scams cover these real life crimes so others can learn. Let's face it, there are a lot of podcasts out there. Seems like every celebrity out there has one, but quite frankly their topics are inane and don't contribute much to the betterment of our society. Their podcast goal seems to be to make more money for the celebrity. Our goal with this podcast is to enrich others with the knowledge they need to protect themselves from frauds and scams.
[01:11:23] Speaker C: Absolutely. It's a tough topic, but incredibly important to discuss.
Thanks for breaking it all down for us, Nick, and for helping us understand these complex schemes.
To all our listeners, Please forward this podcast episode to anyone whom you know that might be interested in the topic. Perhaps even someone who might be in the middle of being scammed and could be enlightened by the information we provide.
You know what I mean? Something along the lines of being brought to their senses.
[01:11:57] Speaker B: Sue, it's vital that we keep these conversations going.
One thing I wanted to mention before we bring in Miles to close us out is that a copy of the actual indictment relative to this case will be attached in PDF form to the version of the podcast episode posted on our
[email protected] we are available on all the popular podcast platforms as well, but please visit our website for the podcast version with the PDF attached.
External platforms such as Apple, Amazon Music, etc. Will not contain the PDF copy because they do not allow document attachments. I encourage listeners to download the copy of the indictment because it is really fascinating reading. It really gets to the heart of how these scammers operate. That's all for today's episode of behind the Scams.
[01:12:56] Speaker C: Thanks for listening and remember, stay safe, stay informed, stay alert, and we'll catch you next time. Now, Miles, please close out this episode of behind the Scams.
[01:13:10] Speaker A: Our hearts go out to the victims in this case, especially those who bravely came forward and helped law enforcement shut this operation down. As Nick just mentioned, if you're the kind of person who binge watches true crime and reads court documents like bedtime stories, we've got you covered. The full federal indictment is
[email protected] right in the episode description.
I read it last week and honestly, it had more twists than a Netflix thriller.
Definitely worth a look. And if this story sounds uncomfortably familiar, maybe to you or someone you care about, don't stay silent.
Report the scam.
Get help.
You're not alone.
Be sure to follow, rate, share and review behind the Scams wherever you get your podcasts. And visit stampoutscams.org for tools, resources and real help.
Until next time, stay smart, stay skeptical, and don't fall for the fantasy.
