A Lagos-based entrepreneur and corporate worker, Bukola Yunisa, has opened up about how she was emotionally devastated and financially ruined after falling victim to a romance scam on Tinder.

According to an interview with The PUNCH, Bukola narrated that the man, who posed as a loving widower and property developer ready for marriage, allegedly defrauded her of millions of naira by exploiting her trust and desire for a stable future.

Yunisa, who balances multiple businesses with her 9-5 job, described herself as disciplined and focused, often prioritizing work over social activities. At 34, family pressure to settle down prompted her to explore online dating during a festive period.

“I downloaded Tinder and stayed there for about a week or two… That was when I matched with Alex,” she recounted. The match occurred in early 2024.

The scammer, initially known as Alex, presented himself convincingly: “He introduced himself as a property developer and a single father. He said his wife had passed away, so he was a widower. He told me his son was studying abroad in the United Kingdom… He presented himself as someone responsible and family-oriented. He spoke about his losses and how he wanted to love again.”

Their connection escalated rapidly. After exchanging WhatsApp numbers on February 12, 2024, conversations turned serious almost immediately. “He told me, ‘I need a wife, not a girlfriend.’… Our intentions aligned, so the connection became very quick.”

They met in person on February 17, 2024, at a hotel in Omole Phase 1, Lagos, where he spoke earnestly about marriage and future plans.

Money entered the picture shortly after. “Just a few days after our conversations became serious, he said he wanted to build an investment hotel in Ondo town for a client, but he didn’t have enough capital to start… The first transfer I made was N500,000 on February 18 or 19, 2024.”

Payments escalated over time: “I made several payments… starting with N500,000, then N1m, N2m, N3m, N1.5m, N5m, N8m, and a few other amounts. I was sending bit by bit… Each time, he explained that the money was needed for different stages of construction or materials. Since our conversations were about marriage and building a future together, I trusted him and believed I was supporting both our investment and our shared future.”

Despite occasional doubts—“Yes, but only after the first N500,000. My instincts started warning me, but I ignored them”—she continued, influenced by faith and her background. “I have always believed God can use people to help others succeed. I come from a poor background, so I thought maybe he was someone God was using to help me.”

The truth emerged gradually. “My instincts kept warning me… At one point, he contacted me to apologise and claimed he was no longer in Nigeria. He said he would start refunding my money and promised to send N100,000, but I only received N80,000… He deactivated his WhatsApp and other social media accounts.”

On January 4, 2026, after posting his picture online, revelations poured in. “People reached out to me with information that exposed the truth. He was not a widower. The woman he introduced as his younger sister was actually his wife, and the children I thought were his relatives were his children… His real name is Babalola Bankole.”

The betrayal left deep scars. “It was devastating. I was humiliated, betrayed, and emotionally shattered… I am 100% emotionally damaged. The betrayal, the fake love, and the involvement of his wife pretending to be a sister broke my trust completely.”

Practically, the impact was severe: “I could not pay my rent and I was evicted from my former house. I resigned from my corporate job because depression affected my work performance. I am currently staying with a friend and managing my businesses.”

Yunisa, whose account linked to the scammer was Alex Ayobami Babalola, now urges caution. “I would say no to online dating entirely. Emotions can blind you, and people can be deceptive. Women should never reveal their financial capacity or income sources to men. Protect yourself financially and emotionally. Verify everything independently. Speak out if you are being harmed. Silence only protects scammers.”

She seeks justice and guidance: “I want proper legal guidance. I want someone to hold my hand at the police station, help me report everything transparently, and make sure I am safe… I want accountability, not revenge. I want the law to work for me and prevent him from harming others.”