EP 25: Houston Love Scam Ring Busted: $3M Stolen from Lonely Seniors!

In this explosive episode of Behind the Scams, hosts Nick and Sue Henley unravel a heartbreaking and jaw-dropping federal case involving a Houston couple who defrauded elderly victims out of millions through romance scams. Drawing from Nick’s former law enforcement experience and insights into federal indictments, this episode walks you through the scams, the tactics, and the justice system’s response.

Akporugo and Sood’s indictment isn’t just another scam story—it’s a shocking revelation of how far scammers will go, and a call to action for listeners everywhere.

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The Love Scam Ring Playbook: Fake Love, Real Money

From fake oil rig engineers to “grieving fathers,” this couple used a disturbing range of emotionally manipulative personas to steal money and trust. Victims were promised love, family, and companionship—what they got was lies, financial ruin, and heartbreak.

They used dating apps, Facebook, shell companies, and even in-person meetings to make their stories convincing. At the core of it all? Greed—and a calculated, evolving fraud operation that spanned nearly a decade.

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Meet the Victims: Real People, Real Losses

• Victim U.P. – Defrauded Over $1 Million

Met “Abelard Wolf” on Match.com, later manipulated by “Patrick Morten” and others. Gave away cash, gold, credit card access, and was even driven to banks by the fraudsters.

• Victim L.P. – Montana Widow Sent $85,000

Scammed by “Barry Hunt.” Sent a cashier’s check directly to a fake company registered to the scammers’ home.

• Victim R.K. – Lost $400,000 in a Fake Oil Rig Investment

Tricked into sending funds to “Beauteous Body LLC,” a shell company owned by Sood.

• Victim J.L. – Lost Over $900,000

Wired money directly to Akporugo’s personal accounts, showing the brazen nature of the fraud.

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The Charges: Legal Consequences for the Fraudsters

The U.S. Department of Justice charged Akporugo and Sood with:

Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Mail Fraud

Multiple Counts of Wire Fraud

Aggravated Identity Theft

Fraud in Connection with Access Devices

Additionally, prosecutors filed a Notice of Criminal Forfeiture to recover any assets obtained through the scams. This opens the door for victim restitution, though that process is slow and complex.

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Red Flags You Should Know

If any of these sound familiar, you may be speaking to a scammer:

Claims to work on an oil rig or in a remote location

Excuses for why they can’t meet in person or video chat

Sudden emotional declarations early in the relationship

Urgent requests for money—especially via wire, checks, or gift cards

Promises of reimbursement or future wealth

Isolation tactics (“Don’t tell your family—they won’t understand us”)

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Chapters

• (00:00:00) - Behind the Scams
• (00:01:03) - Five People Arrested in Romance Scam Fraud Case
• (00:04:28) - Massive Fraud Ring Convicted in Romance Scam
• (00:06:39) - The Heartbreaking Story of a 75 Year Old Widow Scammer
• (00:07:27) - Romance Scammer Gets $644,000
• (00:11:42) - The Palm Beach Scam
• (00:16:34) - Scammer Gets Direct Financial Benefits from Victim Up
• (00:19:10) - Akbarugo and Sud: Taking Gold Coins and Money From
• (00:22:46) - Scammer Uses a Shell Company to Get Money From Victims
• (00:30:16) - Scammer Uses a Shell Company to Launder Money
• (00:37:39) - Malicious Scammer: Victim RK Again Stumped
• (00:42:17) - Another Social Media Scammer Uses the Same Tactics
• (00:43:38) - Scammers Convicted of Sending $910,900 to
• (00:47:28) - The Criminal Case Against Darlington Akporugo and Jas