Alleged Romance Scam Convinced Elderly Man He Was Dating a Celebrity Long-Distance. Then He Died by Suicide

Mar. 15, 2025

Chinagorom Onwumere and Salma Abdalkareem.Photo:Washington County Sheriff’s Office

Washington County Sheriff’s Office

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office announced charges on Nov. 21 against Chinagorom Onwumere, 34, and Salma Abdalkareem, 27, accusing them of extorting a man for more than $100,000.

NJ.com and News 12 both reported that police say the man was made to believe he was in a romantic relationship with a celebrity and was scammed into paying fines from a fake sexual harassment suit.

The sheriff’s office alleges the man paid the couple $87,500 in gift cards and checks, after Onwumere and Abdalkareem allegedly threatened him and his family over email.

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The pair are each charged with three counts of extortion, three counts of financial exploitation of an elderly or vulnerable person, two counts of theft over $60,000 and two counts of criminal impersonation.

Onwumere and Abdalkareem were arrested at their home in Piscataway, N.J., and were transported to Tennessee after waiving extradition, the sheriff’s office says.

It is not clear if they have retained attorneys or entered pleas.

source: people.com