A Lehigh County man is accused of running a scam online and over the phone that bilked victims out of $1.8 million, according to federal court papers filed last week.
Chinedu Ekuma attempted unsuccessfully to bilk an additional $650,000 from victims, the court paperwork says. He lived in Catasauqua and Upper Saucon Township while perpetrating the scam between August 2020 and March 2023, the papers say.
Ekuma allegedly tricked victims into making payments to his companies, Intelaris Solutions and Verge Capital. The victims believed the companies were associated with businesses and individuals to whom they legitimately owed payments.
In fact, the companies had no legitimate relationship with the victims, the court papers say.
Philadelphia attorney Margaret M. Grasso represents Ekuma. She didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
The charges were filed Nov. 5. Ekuma faces two counts of wire fraud. He’s scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday, Nov. 18, by U.S. District Judge John M. Gallagher.
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