GEORGIA—Authorities have begun criminal proceedings against three Nigerians in Georgia alleged to have duped an American citizen living in the country of $233,250.
The accused, identified by their initials—O.F, F.C. and O.M.—on social media impersonated Frank Lucas Balak, a supposed German construction expert living in Georgia, claiming to have won a bridge construction contract worth $900,000
The suspects, posing as Mr Balak, promised to relocate to the US and start a family with the victim after the contract. One of them later posed as a Georgian doctor and told the victim that Mr Balak had been in an accident and needed help.
“They assured (the victim) that the funds transferred…for treatment would be reimbursed from the revenues received from the tender related to the construction of bridges,” Georgia’s prosecution office said in a statement.
In batches, a total of $ 233,250 was transferred to the individuals and was remitted to bank accounts in Nigeria and Turkey.
“On August 13, 2020, OF, F.C. and O.M. were charged with Article 180, Part 2, Subparagraphs “a” and Part 3, Part 3, “B” of the Criminal Code of Georgia (fraud), as well as Article 194, Part 2, Subparagraphs “a” and Part 3, Subparagraph “c” of the Criminal Code of Georgia (Legalization of Illegal Income), which envisages imprisonment for a term of 9 to 12 years,” the statement said.
The defendants were remanded in prison custody as prosecution continues. Prosecution say investigations are ongoing “to identify and expose other possible members of the criminal group.”
A country in Eurasia, Georgia is bordered by Turkey, Armenia and Russia.