This archive report was first published on 23 June 2021.
On June 21, 2021, Florence Mwende Musau, a 36-year-old Kenyan woman from Canton, Ohio, admitted to her involvement in a $4.3 million romance scam in the United States.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Musau and five other suspects used fake identities on social media and dating sites to win the trust of their victims, before defrauding them of millions of dollars.
The scammers allegedly created fake passports with numerous aliases and used them to open bank accounts in Massachusetts and Boston.
When Musau began making large withdrawals, the banks alerted the authorities, and she was subsequently arrested.
As part of her plea deal, Musau faces up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release, and a fine of up to $107 million.
Her sentencing is set for October 14, 2021, in the Massachusetts District.
