Police Thwart Online Dating Scam
A Maryland man with African ties is accused of trying to bilk a Hatfield Township man out of $46,000.
44-yerar-old Maxwell Gbogboade (pictured here) is charged with attempted theft by deception. Police say he posed online as an actress named Mary Douglas, who asked 64-year-old James Thelning for money to pay her travel expenses to and from a movie shoot in Africa. During online dating conversations the intended victim received several pictures purporting to be her that were actually taken from various websites. When she finished the movie she was to move to Hatfield, but she did not exist. Hatfield Township Police reviewed e-mails from Mary Douglas and found that they came from Nigeria and the replies were returned to that African country. After the intended victim arranged a meeting by phone, in the presence of police, Philadelphia Police and Hatfield Detectives arrested the suspect Thursday, May 19, in the lobby of a Philadelphia International Airport hotel, where he had gone to get the money. Prosecutors believe he is part of a larger theft ring.