A 77-year-old woman in Western New York thought she was talking to a man named “Oliver Wilson.” Federal prosecutors said the name was fake.
Stephen Odiboh, 53, of Stone Mountain, Georgia, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after investigators said he and others used online romance and financial scams to target multiple victims, according to The Daily Record.
The largest loss described in the case involved the 77-year-old woman, who was contacted through Facebook in 2023 by someone posing as “Oliver Wilson.” Prosecutors said the fake profile claimed to be a widowed U.S. citizen living in Norway.
Over about 18 months, the woman sent roughly $15,000 in gift cards and more than $162,000 in checks to people and entities named by the scammer. Two checks were sent directly to Odiboh, according to prosecutors.
The Fake Profile Claimed He Was a Widower in Norway
Investigators said Odiboh used the “Oliver Wilson” identity to build an online romantic relationship with the woman after contacting her on Facebook.
The story eventually turned into a demand for more money. In December 2024, prosecutors said “Wilson” claimed Norwegian customs officials were holding him and demanded an additional $158,000.
The woman mailed two checks, but her bank detected the fraud and stopped payment before that money was lost.
The Payments Included Gift Cards and Checks
The earlier payments had already caused major damage. Prosecutors said the woman sent about $15,000 in gift cards and more than $162,000 in checks during the scheme.
The Justice Department previously said Odiboh personally received $70,000 from the elderly romance-scam victim and then laundered the money.
The same federal release said losses and attempted losses tied to Odiboh totaled $356,525.
Odiboh Pleaded Guilty to Wire Fraud Conspiracy
Odiboh pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Charles J. Siragusa. The conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
He is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 8 before Judge Siragusa, according to The Daily Record.
The case was investigated by the FBI.
Prosecutors Said Four Victims Were Targeted
Federal authorities said Odiboh and co-conspirators defrauded four victims between 2023 and March 2025 through online romance and financial scams.
One case involved a caterer who received a fraudulent $2,800 check and was told to send $2,000 to Odiboh through Zelle. Prosecutors said the victim recognized the scam and did not deposit the check.
Another victim who met a scammer on a dating website sent $2,000 to Odiboh through Cash App. A third wired $17,525 after someone posing as a romantic interest claimed he needed money to ship goods from Bahrain to Texas.
The Red Flag Was Money for Someone She Had Not Met
The FTC warns that romance scammers often build trust online before asking for money. Requests involving gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, payment apps, or checks should be treated as a warning sign when they come from someone the victim has not met in person.
Anyone who has already sent money should save messages, receipts, bank records, mailing information, gift-card numbers, and any account names used by the person requesting payment. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center accepts online fraud reports.