Nollywood actor Ikechukwu Mitchel Ogbonna has responded to viral reports linking him to an alleged $75,000 romance scam investigation involving the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). As the claims gained traction online, the actor broke his silence, dismissing the allegations as false and accusing fraudsters of exploiting his identity through fake social media accounts.
The rumours, which circulated on social media, claimed that a 49-year-old American citizen filed a complaint against the actor, leading to a joint investigation by the FBI and EFCC. However, Ogbonna has firmly denied the allegations and described the reports as false, baseless, and malicious.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, the actor said the story had no factual basis and accused fraudsters of using fake social media accounts bearing his name and identity to deceive unsuspecting members of the public. 
“My attention has been drawn to a false story currently circulating online alleging that I have been invited for questioning by the EFCC and FBI over a romance scam,” Ogbonna wrote.
“This report is completely false, malicious, and without any factual basis.”
The actor explained that the misuse of his name and image by online impersonators is not a new development. According to him, unknown individuals have repeatedly created fake accounts to mislead people while pretending to represent him online.
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Ogbonna noted that he has never participated in internet fraud, romance scams, or any other criminal activity. He also clarified that he has never authorised anyone to solicit money, gifts, investments, or any form of financial assistance on his behalf.
“I would like to use this opportunity to state once again that I do not support, encourage, or participate in any form of internet fraud, romance scams, or any other fraudulent activity,” he stated.
The actor further warned fans and members of the public to interact only with his verified social media accounts, which carry the official blue verification badge.
“All of my official social media accounts are verified. If an account claiming to be me isn’t verified, it’s not legitimate. I do not operate secret, backup, or private accounts to communicate with fans.”
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Ogbonna also cautioned social media users against sending money or sharing personal information with individuals posing as him online. He reiterated that he does not privately engage fans for financial transactions or personal requests.
“If you are chatting with, sending money to, or engaging with anyone claiming to be me on social media, please know that it is not me,” he added.
“I do not privately entertain fans in that capacity, nor do I request financial assistance, gifts, investments, or any form of payment from anyone.”
Ogbonna’s public response to the allegations aims to protect his reputation while also warning the public about the dangers of engaging with unverified sources.
The actor urged fans to be cautious and verify the authenticity of social media profiles before interacting with people claiming to be public figures online.
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