The former Chemical Engineering student who dropped out of the university in 2004 due to what he called ‘family issues’ came in contact with the law following a petition by a regional compliance officer with Money Gram International, who suspected that the large number of foreign ladies, mostly Americans and Germans, who have been wiring money to the fraudster were victims of fraud.

The suspicion was triggered by a communication with one of Victor’s victims who told Money Gram that she met the fraudster over the internet and that she has been sending him money because he claims that he wanted to set up a business.

Investigations subsequently revealed that Victor is a serial marriage scammer. He has been fleecing his victims posing as Jerry Finger, a white British American expatriate working in Nigeria. Apart from sending photograph of a successful white male with the assumed identity of a Jerry Finger to his victims and promising them marriage, he would also tell them that he was in Nigeria to execute a project and then demand for money from them, with a promise to refund them when he is paid for the project. Some fell for the gimmick and paid.

Before he was finally nabbed, a total of $96,607.95 had been remitted to him by several victims from the United States and Germany. He collected the money through Money gram desk in five different banks: United Bank for Africa Plc, Bank PHB, Spring Bank and Equitorial Trust Bank, using a fake driver’s licence with the name of Jerry Finger.

Confession

Upon arrest, he confessed to the crime, explaining that he usually deposit receipts from his heist in three accounts; a current, savings and domiciliary accounts with numbers 6028812305, 4018813554 and 9018800613 respectively with Zenith Bank.

According to him, he started scamming in 2007, three years after he dropped out of the university. Before then he had worked as bar man in two hotels in Benin City, Royal Marble Hotel and Ede Confectionaries. He said he was forced to embrace internet fraud due to the pressure of fending for his family. And even when he devoted most of his time to fraud, Osagie still held regular jobs as a camouflage for his criminal endeavours. He said he continued to work as Independent Field Advisor and Multilevel Marketer for ADIC Insurance in Benin.

AfricaNews reporter said the unusual thing about suspect Victor is that unlike other fraudsters who live a life of luxury and spend their money on women, cars and drinks, he lives a moderate lifestyle. He neither drinks, smoke nor womanize. To crown it all, more than 80 percent of the proceeds of his heist were given to his church, Chris Oyakhilome’s Christ Embassy as tithes and offerings.

Donation to church

Investigations reveal that so generous was Osagie, in his giving, that the church noticed and was concerned considering his age. But the fraudster assuaged their fears, explaining that his income came from legitimate sources.

Victor said money belongs to God and there is nothing wrong giving what he has made from his fraudulent endeavours to promote the work of God. He said he receives tremendous satisfaction knowing and seeing the people whose lives have been transformed through his giving. That for him was most edifying. He said he has no regret giving to promote the work of God.

He added that all those who gave him money did so willingly. “They are all my friends. Up till now they are still my friends. If I call them now they will speak with me. I didn’t defraud any one. I only asked for assistance and they were willing to help, “he declared.

He said the only action he took which he is not proud of was assuming the fake identity of a Jerry Finger. However, he claims that some of his victims eventually got to know his real identify.