Fake Billionaire Stole $2M from American Woman on Dating App

A British individual who pretended to be a affluent global tycoon has almost depleted an Oregon woman's life savings through a romantic scam, costing her approximately $2 million, authorities in the United States report.

Oscar Peters, aged 65, was sentenced this week to more than three years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud, as stated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.

A lady holding a mobile device. Image captured by Pexels/Adrienne Andersen.

Additionally, he had to provide compensation and undergo three years of monitored supervision following his time in prison.

Peters linked up with the Portland woman through the online dating site Millionaire Matchmaker, stating he was "a billionaire based in Denmark looking for a lasting relationship."

He maintained regular intimate correspondence through email and telephone with his victim and won her over with pledges of matrimony.

After building up their confidence, Peters started asking for financial assistance, stating that he was going through a divorce and his funds were temporarily inaccessible.

He obtained entry into the woman’s bank accounts and credit cards and ordered her to transfer money to resolve these invented problems.

As mentioned in the filings, some of these transactions were directed to what was referred to as his "assistant"—who was indeed his spouse—highlighting that this purported millionaire apparently possessed neither enterprises, nor customers, nor riches.

Peter vowed to go to Oregon "to be together," yet "some issue always arose" according to the court documents.

He likewise promised her he would return the funds, yet that did not occur.

Altogether, he seized roughly $1.89 million, which was almost her entire lifetime savings, according to the filing.

He spent over $500,000 on credit cards, over $119,000 on travel, over $68,000 on limousine services and car rentals, approximately $57,000 on Apple purchases, and sent over $200,000 to his wife, the court filing showed.

In 2019, Peters was indicted, then arrested in the U.K. in 2020, and finally extradited to the United States in 2023.