- A scammer fooled an unsuspecting man into thinking he was an Italian woman on an online dating website.
- He convinced the victim to send nude pictures and videos, which he used to extort $800 (R12 721.87) from him.
- The Alexandra Magistrate’s Court sentenced Chinedu Jonathan Madueka to a suspended seven-year prison term.
An online dating scammer who fooled a man into believing he was an Italian woman, has received a suspended seven-year jail sentence for fraud and extortion.
The Alexandra Magistrate’s Court suspended the imprisonment term for five years on condition that Chinedu Jonathan Madueka is not convicted of fraud and extortion during the suspension period.
Madueka pleaded guilty to extorting $800 (R12 721.87) from the man, whose identity cannot be revealed, by threatening to publish nude pictures of the man if he didn’t cough up the money.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said:
The complainant was under the impression that he was dating a woman as Madueka pretended to be an Italian woman.
She added that the relationship escalated to a point where the accused asked that they exchange naked pictures and videos.
“The complainant obliged and after receiving the pictures of the complainant, Madueka revealed his gender and demanded payment, threatening to circulate the naked pictures on social media platforms,” Mjonondwane said.
“The complainant was satisfied that Madueka pleaded guilty and paid back the money he extorted from him,” Mjonondwane added.
She did not provide the nationalities of the men and repeated calls to her were not answered.
Prosecutor Lufuno Godfrey Maphiri argued that the accused misrepresented himself and took advantage of the complainant’s feelings.
He asked the court to send a strong message that scamming innocent and unsuspecting people online will not be tolerated.
