.svg)
A sophisticated romance fraud ring operating out of London has been dismantled, with five men sentenced at Guildford Crown Court on Tuesday for their roles in a multi-million-pound conspiracy that emotionally and financially ruined dozens of victims worldwide, Daily Dazzling Dawn understands.
The organised crime group, headed by Kwabena Edusei, manipulated at least 40 confirmed victims, primarily women, out of an estimated £1.8 million (approximately $2.2 million USD, based on current exchange rates). Police suspect the actual number of victims could be as high as 99. The fraud targeted individuals in the UK, across Europe, the US, and Australia.
The fraudsters created highly convincing fake profiles and fictional biographies on various online dating websites. They engaged their victims in protracted relationships, swiftly moving communication to platforms like WhatsApp, using flirtatious language and heartfelt declarations of love to build trust and emotional dependency. Critically, the relationships included occasional video or voice calls but never an in-person meeting.
Once the victims were emotionally invested, the manipulation escalated. The men would coerce and control their targets into sending large sums of money under the guise of an impending, lucrative business transaction, or for sudden, urgent 'emergencies' such as legal bills, lost wallets, or travel expenses to finally meet in the UK. These requests were often supported by false documents, including fake passports and legal letters.
The emotional and financial devastation was profound. In court, one victim's statement revealed the ultimate tragedy: "I lost my home as I could not keep up with the cost of rising bills. I feel so embarrassed and ashamed that I was scammed, so I have not told anyone about this and have lied to my family and friends." The victim added that she is now "very wary when any man tries to get close to me as I always wonder if he will try and scam me."
The Criminals and Their Sentences
The fraudsters managed the fake identities and then used a network of individuals to launder the proceeds through multiple bank accounts in the UK. All five men were convicted and sentenced for their involvement in the fraud and subsequent money laundering operations.
The five convicted men, their names—Fawaz Ali, Ebenezer Tackie, Michael Quartey, Kwabena Edusei, and George Melseaux—suggest potential ties to West Africa, a common source region for organised online financial fraud, though all were residing in and operating from the UK (London, East Finchley, Alton, and Hounslow).
The primary operational hub for the criminals was London and the surrounding areas (East Finchley, Hounslow, and Alton). The investigation and sentencing took place at Guildford Crown Court, Surrey, as Surrey Police were the investigating force.
