Charges: Twin Cities men made 'millions' from online romance scam targeting elderly people
Two Twin Cities men are accused of running multimillion dollar online fraud schemes that targeted elderly people using fake romantic relationships.
Solomon Eghosa Wilfred, 42, of Coon Rapids, was charged with seven counts of mail fraud and Dodzi Kwame Kordorwu, 36, of Brooklyn Park, was charged with eight counts of mail fraud in U.S. District Court Friday.
According to charges, Wilfred and Kordorwu would contact their victims, primarily elderly people, through email and social media. The two would establish a romantic connection with the victims using false personas, sometimes including suggestions of marriage.
Wilfred mailed cards and rings to victims in other states on multiple occasions, according to the indictment.
Once the two had established a connection with the victims, they would introduce them to other fraud participants using false personas. These personas include assistants, diplomats, government officials and law enforcement officers.
The victims were then asked to give money to these false personas. These requests for money would typically increase over time.
Between May 2018 and June 2022, Kordorwu received more than $2.3 million in electronic money transfers from victims.
Between June 2020 and March 2021, Wilfred received more than $1.2 million from more than 400 packages from victims. Both men used the money for their personal benefit and to pay other participants in the scheme.
