The PhD Student Who Faked Everything

Hello Scamstallers ,

In this edition, we uncover how one man used forged transcripts to fake his way into a U.S. university—and how that fraud unraveled into a multi-layered romance scam that investigators say may have cost victims over a million dollars.

The Story: Forged Dreams, Real Damage

Mercy Ojedeji, a 24-year-old Nigerian national, pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to fraudulently securing a student visa using fake transcripts and letters of recommendation. With those documents, he was admitted into a PhD chemistry program at a University of Missouri system school. The offer came with waived tuition, a monthly stipend, and housing—benefits worth over $49,000.

But Ojedeji never showed up for class.

Instead, he used his student status to obtain a Social Security number, open a U.S. bank account, and rent an apartment in Missouri. By January 2024, his enrollment was terminated, but the fraud didn’t stop there. Using the now-invalid visa, he obtained a Missouri driver’s license and remained in the U.S.

Then things got darker.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service started investigating a romance scam. Between December 2023 and January 2024, 35 packages, traced to Nigerian IP addresses, were sent to the home of a woman identified as Ojedeji’s romantic partner. These packages—mailed by alleged victims—included cash and gift cards totaling over $94,000. In total, 193 packages had been delivered to her home, many suspected to be proceeds from romance fraud.

Ojedeji denies any role in the romance scam but has admitted to the immigration and wire fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for July 10, and he faces up to 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine

How S.C.A.M Framework Applies

Let’s break this case down using the S.C.A.M. Framework—a simple system to help you spot and stop fraud before it spreads.

S – Stop and Think

The university, victims, and even federal systems were manipulated by fake documents. At every stage—admissions, benefit distribution, and even package deliveries—someone needed to ask, “Does this make sense?” When things move too fast or seem unusually easy, pause.

C – Check the Source

Forged transcripts and recommendation letters were the foundation of this scam. A deeper verification process—such as checking directly with the issuing institutions—might’ve stopped Ojedeji at the door. Likewise, victims of the romance scam likely believed they were helping someone they loved. Always verify identities, stories, and credentials, no matter how convincing they sound.

A – Avoid Greed Traps

Romance fraud often plays on emotional greed—hope, love, and a desire to help. These scams promise relationships, shared futures, or urgent needs that tug at your heart. But if someone you’ve never met asks for money or gift cards, pause. Love should never require secrecy or payment.

M – Monitor for Red Flags

The university saw no class attendance. That was a red flag. So were the 193 packages, the cash and gift cards, and the Nigerian IP addresses. Red flags often show up as patterns—unusual behavior, repeated financial requests, inconsistent information. If something feels off, trust your gut and report it.

Regulatory Recommendations

This case could have been detected and stopped much earlier if certain safeguards were fully enforced or more widely known:

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
  Ojedeji’s fake admission documents slipped through the student visa system. USCIS requires verification of academic credentials through accredited institutions and third-party evaluators. Stronger enforcement and verification protocols would have flagged the forged transcripts.
  

• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – Romance Scam Alerts
  The FTC provides practical advice to prevent and report romance scams. If victims had seen these alerts earlier, they might have spotted the red flags before mailing thousands of dollars.

When systems fail—or are not enforced—the consequences ripple. But when people are empowered with awareness, red flags become warnings instead of regrets.

Closing

Let’s be honest—this isn’t just a story about one person faking documents. It’s about how easy it still is to fool some of the world’s most powerful systems.

Today, people with no formal education are outsmarting global companies, bypassing top-tier security systems, and destroying lives in the process. Seniors are losing everything. Children are being blackmailed. Some victims never get a second chance.

That’s why Scamstall exists—to break down real scams in plain, relatable language so anyone, anywhere, can stay one step ahead.

But we can’t do this alone.

Share this newsletter with your colleagues, friends, and loved ones. Encourage them to subscribe—because the next target could be someone you care about.

And if this mission resonates with you, consider donating. Your support helps us reach more people, fight back against these scams, and build a smarter, safer, scam-free world—one story at a time.

Until next time,
Andrew Ukegbu
Founder, Scamstall
www.scamstall.com