A Nigerian man accused of posing as a member of Dubai’s royal family to defraud victims online has been arrested, as another alleged victim of the same scheme has come forward in Romania.

The suspect, Nzube Ikeji, 31, was taken into custody by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission following the release of a documentary by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) that detailed the alleged fraud operation. Authorities said charges had yet to be filed.

The documentary alleged that Mr Ikeji impersonated Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, commonly known as the Crown Prince of Dubai, to establish an online relationship with a Romanian businesswoman identified as Laura, eventually defrauding her of about $2.5 million.

Following the report, a second Romanian woman, identified as Ana, contacted OCCRP’s partner platform Context.ro, claiming she had been targeted by the same scheme. Documents she provided indicated similarities in communication patterns, payment requests and fake credentials used by the alleged fraudster.

According to findings, both women were initially contacted via LinkedIn by an individual claiming to represent a humanitarian foundation linked to Dubai’s ruling family. They were later persuaded to pay 7,748 UAE dirhams (about €1,850) for what was described as an “official VIP humanitarian membership permit.”

Subsequent messages informed them that additional payments were required to activate the permits. Ana reportedly paid over €10,000, while Laura paid more than €12,000 before further demands were made.

Investigators said the suspect moved conversations from LinkedIn to Skype and later WhatsApp, where he allegedly developed romantic relationships with the victims as part of the scheme.

Ana said she discontinued contact after refusing to send an additional €42,000 requested for a supposed visit. Laura, however, remained engaged for a longer period, exchanging messages over two years and reportedly meeting an individual described as a “financial manager” in London.

The alleged scam also involved false claims of job opportunities and investment projects linked to the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, an organisation founded by Dubai’s ruler, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Investigators confirmed that these offers were not legitimate.

Mr Ikeji could not be reached for comment. Previous statements attributed to him denied involvement in the fraud and described the OCCRP investigation as an attempt to damage his reputation.

Authorities have not disclosed further details on the ongoing investigation, but the case highlights the continued rise of online romance scams involving impersonation of high-profile individuals to exploit victims financially.