Operatives from the Philippine National Police Anti Cybercrime Group (PNP–ACG) arrested a Nigerian national along with his lover in an online love scam that is worth PHP2.2 Million in Bacoor City in Cavite.

Lt. Michael Bernardo (team leader, Quezon City District Anti Cybercrime Team), released a statement on Thursday, November 3, 2022, naming the suspects as Jacel Ann Paderan, 28, and Ikenna Onuoha 37.

He stated that the suspects were arrested by QCDACT personnel and Quezon City District Special Operations Unit personnel from Molino, Bacoor City in Cavite, on November 1, 2022.

Police said the Nigerian national and Paderan were apparently lovers but that the victim, whose name was withheld by authorities, was also the Nigerian suspect's lover.

Police said the Nigerian man and the victim met on an online dating app and had been in a relationship since April 2020.

The suspects have pending arrest warrants for swindling/estafa issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 230.

The case stemmed from the complaint of Onuoha’s victim whom he met at a dating site.

According to the victim, her relationship with the suspect started in April 2020. The suspect then introduced himself as a Turkish national named "Demir Balik".

In the course of their virtual relationship, the victim said the suspect made a lot of promises which she believed.

The suspect managed to convince the victim to send him money, totaling PHP2,282,000.

Police said the money was sent to the bank accounts of Paderan and a certain Cristine Mae Elizares.

The victim said Onuoha told her that he has a dormant account in a bank in the United Kingdom and that he needs money to settle it.

"When the suspect asked for more money from the victim, it was then that she realized that she was being conned and decided to report the incident to our office,” Bernardo said.

The third suspect, Elizares, remains at large.

The suspects are facing charges of swindling/estafa and abuse of the use of information and communications technology under the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.