Over $10,000 Returned to Florida Woman, Victim of Cryptocurrency Romance Scam

Photo for illustrative purposes onlyPhoto byrc.xyz NFT galleryonUnsplash

Talk about a bad romance; in a groundbreaking announcement made last week, the Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) revealed that over $10,000 has been returned to a victim of a cryptocurrency-based romance scam.

The scam, which began in October 2023, involved Sunday Adebola, a Nigerian national, who was charged with multiple offenses, including grand theft and money laundering. An arrest warrant has been issued for Adebola, who faces up to 30 years in prison if he attempts to enter the United States. The case resulted in the seizure of Tether assets, with an Alachua County judge ordering the forfeiture and subsequent return of $10,087.25 to the victim.

“This result is the first of its kind in the state of Florida, and with the hard work of OFR investigators, the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution’s Cyber Fraud Unit, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, we were able to return approximately 94 percent of the victim’s money,” said OFR Commissioner Russell C. Weigel, III. “The Office of Financial Regulation will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to protect Floridians from financial scams.”

Adebola used an online dating platform to pose as Jayden Wallace, a U.S. Army soldier stationed overseas, gaining the victim's trust and ultimately convincing her to provide personal information, open bank accounts, and transfer funds. In total, the victim sent Adebola $13,490 in Bitcoin to cover supposed expenses related to a visit and tax debts.

The OFR's investigation, aided by the Cyber Fraud Unit and an international virtual asset service provider, led to the seizure of Adebola's Tether assets, showcasing the collaborative effort to combat cybercrime.

Floridians are urged to report any suspicious financial practices by visiting www.flofr.gov or calling (850) 487-9687.