Police arrest $150,000 internet fake lovers

The Police CID has arrested Edmund Ametepey, alias Nana Kofi 23, and Alexander Quarshie 22 for Internet fraud. The two defrauded their victims based in the United States of America of huge sums of money. Edmund is unemployed and lives at Santa Maria, while Alexander is a Trader living at Tantra Hills, all suburbs of Accra. A source at the Police Headquarters told Public Agenda that in January 2006, the accused (Edmund) posed as a single lady (Nancy Osei) who was looking for a Christian man to marry on a dating site. The complainant became interested and began corresponding with her (Edmund). Later, she informed the complainant of her decision to join him in the USA. ‘She’ then demanded money for the trip, and the complainant transferred an amount of $3500 to her. After receiving the money, the complainant received a call from one Kennedy Smith, an alleged travel agent, who said Nancy had been arrested at the Kotoka International Airport, for illegally carrying 33kg of gold. He then demanded an amount of $2000, which was transferred to him, towards her release. After that, the accused persons told the complainant stories after stories about Nancy’s trip, which made him transfer a total of $150,000 to them. In August 2006, the complainant came down to Ghana with the view of tracing his fiancée, only to realize that he had been defrauded. He therefore consulted a law firm to take up the matter. In January 2007, he received a call from a lady who said she was Nancy and she stated that she had been kidnapped for the past few months. She then demanded money to purchase a new phone and asked complainant to transfer $300 to her in the name of Alex Quarshie a supposed pastor’s son. On January 15, 2007 the amount of $300 was transferred and Alex Quarshie picked it up, records at the offices of the money transfer agency have shown. The supposed Nancy acknowledged receipt of the money and asked for another $300. The complainant sent the money but informed the police. On January 23, 2007 Alexander Quarshie was arrested when he went to the money agency to collect the money. During interrogation, the accused Alexander Quarshie admitted receiving $300 earlier by money transfer but stated that he was only sent by Edmund Ametepey. Investigations led to the arrest of Edmund Ametepey on January 25, 2007. He confirmed Quarshie’s claim, and added that he had contact with the complainant through his friend by name Michael, who is now in China. A search on the accused persons revealed foreign numbers and when questioned both accused persons further admitted that they normally visit the Internet and posed as ladies and demand monies from people who will show interest in them.