A Nigerian man accused of posing as a Dubai royal to defraud unsuspecting victims has been arrested, as a second alleged victim of the elaborate romance scam has now come forward.
An investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) recently exposed the operation, leading to the arrest of 31-year-old Nzube Henry Ikeji by Nigerian authorities. However, as of the time of reporting, no formal charges have been filed, according to a spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The arrest followed the release of a documentary that detailed how Ikeji allegedly impersonated Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, widely known as the Crown Prince of Dubai. Through this false identity, he reportedly built an online romantic relationship with a Romanian businesswoman identified as Laura, defrauding her of about $2.5 million.
That shortly after the documentary aired, another Romanian woman, identified as Ana, contacted journalists with claims that she had been targeted by the same scam network.
Both victims said they were initially approached on LinkedIn by an individual claiming to be the Dubai prince and linked to a humanitarian foundation. The scammer allegedly convinced them to pay for what was described as an “official VIP humanitarian membership permit,” costing 7,748 UAE dirhams (about €1,850).
Documents and communications reviewed by investigators revealed striking similarities in the methods used against both women, including identical email formats, fake membership cards, and scripted messages—suggesting a coordinated fraud operation.
Ana reportedly received her first message in October 2022, while Laura was contacted a month later. After making the initial payment, both women were asked to send additional funds to “activate” their membership. Ana allegedly paid a total of €10,550, while Laura paid €12,550 at this stage.
The scam reportedly escalated as the impersonator moved conversations from LinkedIn to Skype and later WhatsApp, where he built emotional relationships with the victims. Ana said the fake prince later requested €42,000 to facilitate a supposed visit to Romania. When she declined, communication ended abruptly.
Laura, however, remained entangled in the scheme for nearly two years, exchanging thousands of messages and even traveling to London, where she reportedly met a supposed “financial manager” linked to the fake royal arrangement.
Further claims indicated that the victims were lured with fake opportunities tied to the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, a legitimate charity founded by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Investigators confirmed that none of the offers made to the victims were genuine.
Ikeji has denied any involvement in the scam, previously describing the OCCRP investigation as a deliberate attempt to damage his reputation. Efforts to reach him for comment on the latest allegations were unsuccessful.
Authorities are continuing investigations as more details emerge about the scale and structure of the alleged romance fraud network.
