A 53-year-old Nigerian man, Stephen Odiboh, has been sentenced to 33 months in prison in the United States for his involvement in a wire fraud conspiracy that targeted multiple victims through online romance scams and other fraudulent schemes.
Odiboh, a resident of Stone Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was also ordered to pay $196,500 in restitution to victims who suffered financial losses as a result of the scheme.
The fraudulent operation involved the use of false identities, fabricated personal stories and deceptive online relationships to gain victims’ trust before persuading them to send money. The scheme reportedly targeted four victims between 2023 and March 2025, with the total financial loss and attempted loss estimated at approximately $356,500.
One of the victims was a 77-year-old woman from Western New York who allegedly met a man on Facebook in 2023. The individual presented himself as Oliver Wilson, claiming to be a widower, a United States citizen and a resident of Norway.
After establishing communication with the woman, the fraudster allegedly developed a romantic relationship with her and gradually gained her confidence. He reportedly began asking her to purchase gift cards, claiming that the cards were necessary to maintain their online communication.
Believing the relationship was genuine, the woman allegedly purchased about 30 gift cards worth $500 each, losing approximately $15,000.
The deception reportedly continued as the victim was persuaded to send money through other means. Between January and July 2024, she allegedly mailed eight checks worth more than $162,000 to individuals and entities connected to the scheme. Two of the checks were reportedly made payable to Odiboh.
In December 2024, the woman was allegedly told that the man she believed she was in a relationship with had been detained by customs authorities in Norway and needed money to pay a fine.
She attempted to send two additional checks, but her bank reportedly detected suspicious activity and stopped the payments before the transactions could be completed.
Investigators also uncovered other fraudulent activities linked to the operation.
In April 2024, a co-conspirator allegedly contacted a caterer while pretending to be a customer named Alex Alberto who wanted catering services. The supposed customer sent a check for $2,800 to cover an $800 deposit and instructed the caterer to transfer the remaining $2,000 to Odiboh through Zelle.
The caterer reportedly recognised the transaction as suspicious and refused to deposit the check or send the money.
Another incident involved a co-conspirator who allegedly used the name William Rivera on an online dating platform. After gaining a victim’s confidence, the individual reportedly persuaded the victim to transfer $2,000 to Odiboh through Cash App.
A separate romance scam was reported in March 2025, when another co-conspirator allegedly posed as Alec Jonas and developed an online relationship with a victim. The individual claimed to be working in Bahrain and needed financial assistance to transport goods from Bahrain to Texas.
The victim was reportedly persuaded to wire $17,525 into a bank account controlled by the conspirator. Investigators linked the transaction to the wider fraud operation involving Odiboh and other individuals.
The cases reveal how romance scams can extend beyond emotional manipulation to include elaborate financial schemes involving bank transfers, gift cards, payment applications and fraudulent checks.
In many such operations, offenders create convincing online identities and spend considerable time building relationships with unsuspecting victims. Once trust has been established, they introduce emergencies or financial problems designed to pressure victims into sending money.
Some scammers claim to need assistance with medical bills, travel expenses, customs charges or business transactions. Others pretend to be working abroad or living in another country, making it difficult for victims to verify their claims.
The financial consequences can be devastating, particularly for elderly people and individuals who believe they have found a genuine romantic partner online.
Odiboh’s sentence follows an investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation Division.
The $196,500 restitution order is intended to compensate victims for their losses, although the amount differs from the approximately $356,500 associated with the overall scheme, which included both completed and attempted fraudulent transactions.
The case serves as a warning to internet users about the risks associated with online relationships involving requests for money. People are encouraged to verify identities independently and remain cautious when online acquaintances request gift cards, bank transfers or payments through digital platforms.
Romantic relationships that exist entirely online can be difficult to verify, especially when the other person repeatedly avoids video calls, provides inconsistent personal information or invents emergencies whenever money is requested.
Members of the public are also advised not to deposit suspicious checks or forward money to third parties on behalf of people they have met online. Such arrangements can expose victims to further financial losses.
The case highlights the importance of reporting suspected fraud as early as possible. Prompt communication with banks and law enforcement agencies may help prevent additional payments and assist investigators in tracing suspicious transactions.
Odiboh’s 33-month prison sentence and restitution order mark a significant outcome in the prosecution of a scheme that allegedly exploited trust and emotional connections to obtain money from multiple victims.
