Nigerian Love Island Star Accused of Crypto Romance Scam That Dupes Over 2,000 Victims
Abuja, Nigeria – A prominent contestant from the Nigerian edition of Love Island has been formally accused of orchestrating a sophisticated cryptocurrency romance scam that defrauded more than 2,000 individuals across three continents. According to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who launched an investigation on Wednesday, the suspect allegedly used dating profiles on the reality show's official app to cultivate romantic relationships with victims. Authorities allege that the individual, identified as 29-year-old Chiamaka Okafor, persuaded victims to invest in a fake digital currency platform promising high returns. Officials report that total losses exceed 15 billion Nigerian naira, with victims in Nigeria, Ghana, the United Kingdom, and Canada. The EfCC has detained Okafor in Abuja pending formal charges, though her legal team denies all allegations. This case highlights growing concerns over the misuse of celebrity status on popular reality shows to perpetrate financial crimes.