Online Romance Scam! How Liberian Senator, others became victims, bait

An online romance scam has taken a notch higher with the unauthorised use of no less than the image of a Liberian senator.

Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, who is happily married, has his image on a Facebook page, “Christian Dating Site Worldwide,” with a different name, soliciting for a long-term relationship leading to another marriage.

The image of Snowe, who is also a member of the ECOWAS Parliament, came with a caption: “Hello, my fellow Africans. I am David (financially stable) from Africa, but I am currently based in London. I am single and searching for a long-term relationship leading to marriage. I should be from any country, and I am willing to relocate first. Click the WhatsApp button below.”

The deceptive post has generated significant engagement from women across Africa and may serve as a gateway tactic for online grooming or human trafficking.

The post encouraged viewers, particularly women from across Africa, to click on the WhatsApp button, potentially leading to private interactions with dire repercussions, including manipulation or trafficking.

DUBAWA followed and tracked conversations on the page and made some interesting findings. The page, created on May 6, 2023, has over 17,000 followers with thousands of engagements, as shown on the Transparency page on Facebook.

Further checks indicate dozens of women were lured into commenting, providing private details of themselves, and expressing interest in the relationship with the image of Snowe. Examples include:

“Single mother from Nigeria, 32 years.” – Abe Tomisin

“Interested from Ghana.” – Amina Akurigu

Checks by DUBAWA indicate that Snowe’s official page administrator reported the matter to Facebook, leading to a change in the name of the deceptive page, which is now referred to as “Black and White Dating Site for Serious Relationships.” However, Mr Snowe’s picture and content remained the same.

Despite the rebranding, the original post remains active, continuing to spread misinformation and exposing vulnerable individuals to potential risks.

The language and structure of the post align with classic online grooming and trafficking indicators, in particular:

• False representation of identity
• Promises of relocation and financial stability
• Anonymous contact via WhatsApp
• Use of a public figure to build credibility

This scenario aligns with the UN Trafficking in Persons Protocol definition, which highlights exploitation through deception, abuse of power, and fraud.

A reverse image search confirms the man depicted is Senator Edwin Snowe, not “David” from London.

A cross-section of Senator Melvin’s Facebook page

The fact-checking platform DUBAWA corroborated this misuse, receiving direct confirmation from Senator Snowe via WhatsApp. Screenshots of the formal complaints on Facebook were also shared.

Despite a name change on the fraudulent page, Facebook has not yet removed the content.

Women engaging with the page are at potential risk of exploitation or trafficking. This incident highlights the need for improved digital safety protocols and faster action from platforms like Facebook to remove harmful content.

According to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), romance scammers use falsehoods to deceive individuals and obtain their affection and finances.

Reports indicate that these falsehoods are effective. In 2022, approximately 70,000 individuals reported falling victim to a romance scam, resulting in a total reported loss of $1.3 billion. The median loss reported was $4400. Research on online romance scams targeting women has revealed a multifaceted issue that encompasses the psychological, technological, and social dimensions.

The Black and White Dating Site Facebook page, created on May 27, 2023, has 17,000 followers. The page’s admin information indicates that no additional administrators are listed, although others may have permission to post, comment, or send messages.

A recent post featured a man identified as “Dr. Andrew,” 42, from Kenya, who is currently on holiday in Uganda and seeking a marriage partner.

However, a reverse image search revealed the following inconsistencies:

1. The same photograph was used on “BOTSWANA ADVERTISERS PLATFORM” on December 18, 2024, identifying the individual as Smith Mike, a 32-year-old from Canada.

2. Another instance of the image appeared on “TANZANIA PULSES,” labelling the man as Charlie, 34 years old, from California, USA. These discrepancies suggest potential misrepresentation or fraudulent activity at the dating sites. 

This highlights the importance of media literacy and online vigilance, especially on platforms that host romantic or financial scams.

The claim made by “Christian Dating Site Worldwide” (now “Black and White Dating Site for Serious Relationships”) is false. The image used is that of Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, not “David” from London. The post is a deliberate misrepresentation, likely part of a broader scam operation, and presents significant risks to human trafficking and exploitation.