EP 27: Love, Bitcoin, and Lies: The Nigerian Romance Scam Indictment

Update: 2025-07-08

Description

The Romance Scam That Crossed Borders and Broke Hearts

In this episode of Behind the Scams, hosts Nick and Sue Henley unravel one of the most intricate federal indictments in recent romance scam history — the U.S. government’s case against Nigerian national Charles Uchenna Nwadavid. Charged with mail fraud and money laundering in the District of Massachusetts, Nwadavid’s scheme weaponized love, trust, and cryptocurrency in a calculated campaign that exploited multiple victims over three years.

The story isn’t just about romance and deception — it’s about how emotionally and financially devastating these scams can become, especially when victims are manipulated into unknowingly participating in criminal financial activity themselves.

Victims Turned Money Mules: The Double Exploitation in this Nigerian Romance Scam Indictment

At the heart of this case is “Victim 1,” a woman who believed she was in a long-distance relationship with a man named “Williams Moore.” Instead, she became both emotionally drained and financially exploited, eventually handling and transferring more than $2.5 million in scam proceeds — much of it in Bitcoin. What she didn’t realize? That money came from other romance scam victims like her.

The indictment shows how Victim 1 was manipulated into becoming an unknowing “money mule,” a tragic figure used to help launder stolen funds from at least five other victims, each conned with different aliases, stories, and emotional hooks.

Cryptocurrency & Obfuscation: A Modern Twist

Nwadavid’s alleged use of cryptocurrency exchanges like Bitcoin of America and peer-to-peer platforms such as LocalBitcoins made it difficult for investigators to trace funds. Yet, a digital trail eventually emerged — one that linked access to scam-related accounts with IP addresses and even email addresses used on U.S. visa applications.

Nick, drawing on his 25-year background in federal law enforcement, provides crucial insight into how crypto complicates investigations, and why these tools are now at the center of financial fraud worldwide.

Psychology of a Scam: Love Bombing, Isolation, and Future Faking

Sue and Nick break down the psychological tactics behind romance scams, from love bombing and emotional dependency to “future faking” and strategic isolation. Victims were made to feel essential, wanted, and central to a future life with their scammer — all while being exploited to fund that illusion.

Whether it was oil rig injuries, overseas inheritances, or fake hospital bills, the lies followed a pattern — urgent, emotional, and strategic.

Who Are the Victims? A Nationwide Web of Deceit

Victims in this case came from all over the United States: Massachusetts, New Jersey, Florida, and Kansas. Each believed they were in a committed relationship. Each transferred hundreds of thousands of dollars. And each was unknowingly connected to the same international scam operation, allegedly orchestrated by Nwadavid and others.

Their stories are harrowing, not just for the financial loss, but for the emotional manipulation they endured. From Victim 2, who lost $896,000 to “Manuel Sykes,” to Victim 6, who believed her online boyfriend was stranded in Spain, the common thread was a deep betrayal of trust.

The Unexpected Arrest in Texas

In a twist worthy of a crime drama, Nwadavid was arrested not in Nigeria but in Texas — after traveling from the United Kingdom to visit family. His tourist visa had been quietly revoked, and the U.S. government admitted him under “Significant Public Benefit Parole,” a mechanism used specifically to prosecute high-priority foreign suspects.

Upon landing in the U.S., Nwadavid was taken into custody. The government presented compelling circumstantial evidence tying him to scam-related Bitcoin accounts and communication metadata — though, notably, no direct victim communications were found at the time of detention.

Detention Hearing Drama: Liberty vs. Flight Risk

The episode also unpacks the legal debate around whether Nwadavid should be released pending trial. The prosecution argued that his international ties and potential sentence (20 years and $500,000 in fines) made him a high flight risk. The defense countered with strong local support — including a third-party custodian, his Texas-based aunt, a respected nurse and healthcare executive.

In the end, the court granted conditional release with strict supervision, GPS ankle monitoring, passport surrender, and full home detention.

Key Takeaways for Listeners from Nigerian Romance Scam Indictment

This case highlights not only the emotional devastation of romance scams but also how easily victims can become tools in larger criminal enterprises. It reinforces why Stamp Out Scams and our partners push for stronger public awareness, better education, and smarter fraud detection tools.

As always, Nick reminds listeners: the best weapon against scams is knowledge. The more we expose their methods, the harder it becomes for fraudsters to succeed.

Get the Nigerian Romance Scam Indictment Document

We’re providing a full copy of the federal indictment used in this episode for educational purposes.
Click here to read it now (Available only on our website — not on Spotify or Apple Podcasts)