Con artists tricked Tennessee retiree, 74, out of $86K in romance scam before he took his own life. What you need to know to protect yourself

Two years later, the con artists are convicts, with federal prison sentences to look forward to. They must pay $388,500 in restitution

On Dec. 2, 2025, Stephen O. Anagor, 37, of Lakewood, Washington, was sentenced to nine years in prison. His former military trainee classmate, Chinagorom Onwumere, 36, of Piscataway, New Jersey, was sentenced to seven years. And Onwumere’s wife, Salma Abdalkareem, 29, was sentenced to a little over four years. (1).

U.S. Department of Justice prosecutors said the trio joined forces in 2023 to help a relative in Nigeria defraud elderly Americans through online romance scams.

Once they convinced the retired teacher that he was in a relationship with a famous actress, they turned tables on him.

They impersonated a former FBI director and a U.S. attorney general, telling the victim that the celebrity had filed a complaint and that she demanded exorbitant “fees” to make the matter go away.

Through harassing emails, they pressured him into sending five checks for a total $86,900 — including proceeds from a loan he took out on his truck to pay the fees.

In his final text to the person he believed was the celebrity, he said he had no money left to give her and that he intended to end his life. He died by suicide on Oct. 23, 2023.

As NJ.com reported, following his death, his family members discovered emails related to the scam on his tablet and took it to the authorities (2).

Older Americans are vulnerable to romance scams

This tragic situation highlights how sophisticated and emotionally manipulative romance scams can be.

According to the FBI, scammers create fake online identities to build trust, spark an emotional bond, and ultimately steal money from their victims (3). They exploit older adults’ vulnerabilities.

Many retirees live alone, may be less familiar with online impersonation tactics or embarrassed to tell family about a new romantic connection. According to the Federal Trade Commission, older adults lost $240 million to romance scams in 2022 alone.

While every scam varies, most follow predictable steps:

• They make first contact out of the blue. Scammers often start with a “wrong number” text, a dating-site match, or a friendly social media message. The goal is to start a conversation.
• They build emotional intimacy fast. Scammers shower victims with attention. They may send photos, audio messages, or even prerecorded videos to appear real and invested.
• They claim they can’t meet in person. Many pretend to be deployed overseas, working on a film set or handling a crisis that keeps them conveniently out of reach.

Once that bond forms, the financial pressure begins. They might claim they need help paying hospital bills, securing travel documents, or covering legal fees.

In more aggressive cases — like the Jonesborough scam — criminals pose as government officials, warning victims about fake investigations or fines to coerce rapid payments.