Mounties searching for suspects in romance scam

REGINA — The Saskatchewan RCMP is still looking for three suspects in a multimillion-dollar romance scam that allegedly targeted women across the country.

According to the province’s Federal Serious and Organized Crime Unit, police are still searching for 23-year-old Jonah Eigbuluese, 27-year-old Clinton Newton and 25-yearold Joshua Ometie. Canadawide warrants exist for all three.

Along with 28-year-old Austin Newton and 25-yearold Kelvin Awani — both of whom were previously arrested — the men are accused of taking part in an intricate online scam.

The five have all lived in Regina, police said.

The lengthy investigation dubbed Project Farewell used a combination of investigative tactics, such as surveillance, interviews and judicial authorizations allowing police to investigate more than 50 Canadian bank accounts.

While the women involved reported they collectively lost more than $2 million, police have been able to prove a loss of more than $360,000.

Funds were misappropriated from the complainants over a two-year period, the RCMP said.

In April, Farewell’s former lead investigator Sgt. Kim Stewart described how the alleged frauds occurred, stating women met the men online, sometimes through dating sites but often through gaming apps. Stewart said the skill shown by the men involved was such that over time, many women believed themselves in real relationships. The men shared details of their lives and struggles — typically invented — sent gifts, and made plans for visits that never happened.

The RCMP said once those bonds were formed, the men went to the women with urgent claims of family illness and death, financial struggles, difficulties accessing bank accounts while at remote workplaces or problems freeing up money in the hands of a third party.

The women — all of whom were described as intelligent and educated — were talked into handing over the money.

Stewart said she believes there are more women out there who have yet to make a complaint to police, and more suspects involved in what’s believed to be a criminal organization with international ties.

Austin Newton was arrested in Edmonton on Jan. 15 and is currently in custody, having been denied bail. He returns to court in Regina on Wednesday.