The case of the Romanian woman seduced and robbed by a fake crown prince of Dubai: DIICOT investigates a scam of over two million dollars
The Maramureș Territorial Office opened a criminal case in a case of fraud with particularly serious consequences, after a businesswoman from Baia Mare complained that she was damaged by more than 2 million dollars in an online “romance scam” scheme.
Romanian woman tricked by the fake prince PHOTO: OCCRP youtube capture
“In the criminal file, registered at the end of January 2025, on the role of DIICOT – Maramureș Territorial Office, investigations are being carried out, in rem, regarding the commission of the crimes of forming an organized criminal group and fraud with particularly serious consequences. The criminal investigation activities are carried out together with police officers of the Maramureș Organized Crime Service”, transmitted DIICOT.
The investigation is ongoing, and other data cannot be communicated in order not to jeopardize the results of the investigations.
“Since the investigations are ongoing, other data cannot be communicated in order not to jeopardize the outcome of the investigation, this stage establishing the procedural framework necessary to gather the evidence for the correct and complete establishment of the factual situation that will allow the adoption of a legal and thorough solution in the case”, stated DIICOT.
The businesswoman was seduced online
The woman was contacted about three years ago on LinkedIn by a man posing as the Crown Prince of Dubai. He proposed an investment partnership in a humanitarian foundation worth hundreds of millions of pounds, which was also to be active in Romania.
The professional relationship gradually turned into an emotional one, with promises of a future and even marriage plans. To make everything believable, the false prince presented him with a “financial manager” based in London, which facilitated the opening of an online account fictitiously displaying over £200 million.
“He was very persuasive, very thoughtful, extremely well documented,” the victim told OCCRP.
When the Romanian businesswoman tried to withdraw funds for administrative expenses, she was asked so-called “unlock fees”. In total, she transferred more than $2 million, money obtained through loans, home mortgages and resources of her company.
The investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) shows that behind the false identity is a Nigerian national, Henry Eke, who has built one of the most sophisticated schemes of the “scam romances” recently documented.
Surprisingly, two of Eke's accomplices contacted the victim directly to reveal the truth. Despite the confrontation, the scammer denied the allegations and refused to return the money.
According to the OCCRP, Henry Eke, also known as “Excess Money”, built an extravagant lifestyle from his fraudulent profits. Part of the victim's money would have ended up in a Nigerian foundation controlled by him, under the guise of philanthropy.
