Can You Really Go To Prison For Romance Fraud?

These days, many people meet prospective partners online – and this has led to a surge in so-called “romance fraud.” This type of scam involves gaining someone’s trust in a chatroom or dating app before slowly convincing them to hand over their personal information, their funds, and more. What happens if you get accused of this crime in New Jersey? Can you really go to prison for tricking someone online?

Man Sentenced to More than Two Years in Prison for Romance Fraud 

Make no mistake – those accused of romance fraud will face potential prison sentences in New Jersey. This was made clear on October 26th of 2023, when the Justice Department announced that a defendant had been sentenced to 27 months for this crime. In addition, he was convicted of wire fraud as part of the scheme.

Over a period spanning from 2015 to 2019, the defendant and one other conspirator targeted a woman in Florida after creating a fake online dating account. Gradually, the defendant gained the victim’s trust – eventually leading her to believe that he was running a multi-million-dollar oil company. As time went on, the defendant asked the victims for loans, claiming that his accounts had been frozen by a foreign government. The victim apparently agreed to make these loans, and in 2018 she transferred money to the defendant’s account on four separate occasions.

In addition to his prison term, the defendant was ordered to pay about $45,000 in restitution – suggesting that this was the total amount transferred by the victim. Because of the fraudulent manner in which the money was transferred, the defendant was also convicted of wire fraud.

What if the Defendant Was Telling the Truth? 

It is worth mentioning that the defendant may not have been charged with fraud if he was actually telling the truth. After all, a key component of the legal definition of fraud is a “misrepresentation of facts.” What if he really had been running a multi-million-dollar oil company, and his assets had been frozen?

The victim in this situation was aware (or should have been aware) that making a private loan was an incredibly risky venture – and there was no real guarantee that she would ever get the money back. Loaning money to a friend certainly isn’t the same as loaning money to a bank or financial institution. No contract was ever signed. In the absence of his lies, the loan might have been seen as a gift to the defendant. 

Where Can I Find a Qualified, Experienced Defense Attorney in New Jersey? 

If you’ve been searching for a qualified, experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney, look no further than Phillip J. Murphy, Attorney at Law. Over the years, we have helped numerous defendants throughout the Garden State – including those accused of fraud. It is clear that those engaging in so-called romance fraud may experience serious legal consequences – but it may still be possible to utilize effective defense strategies. Book your consultation today to discuss the most appropriate course of action.

Sources: 

justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/essex-county-man-sentenced-27-months-prison-conspiracy-commit-wire-fraud-and-wire-fraud

law.cornell.edu/wex/fraud