FBI Arrests 11 Nigerians Over Alleged Romance Fraud | SEE NAMES

According to the court document, the defendants preyed on elderly victims, many of whom were widows or divorced.

This is as the FBI estimated that more than 20,000 people lost more than $600 million in romance scams in 2020 alone.

The defendants are; David Animashaun, 38; Oluwalobamise Michael Moses, 40; Irabor Fatarr Musa, 51; Ijeoma Okoro, 31; Chukwemeka Orji, 36; Emanuel Stanley Orji, 35; Frederick Orji, 37; Uwadiale Esezobor, 36; Victor Idowu, 36; Afeez Abiola Alao, 37; and Ambrose Sunday Ohide, 47.

They were arrested by the FBI in DFW, Eastern District of Texas, Dallas, Lubbock, Los Angeles and charged in the Northern District of Texas for alleged fraud conspiracy, money laundering, mail & wire fraud conspiracy.

The indictment stated that the 11 defendants who were grabbed during a large-scale operation Wednesday morning, have ties to a trans-national organized crime syndicate originating from Nigeria.

The defendants, if convicted, face up to 30 years in federal prison on the wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy counts.

Acting U.S. Attorney, Prerak Shah at a press conference announcing the charges said the crimes, "are especially despicable because they rely not only on victims' lack of internet savvy, but also, their isolation, their loneliness, and sometimes their grief.

"As the victims open their hearts, the perpetrators open their wallets. The only mistake these victims make is being generous to the wrong people," he said.