In a story that reads like a psychological thriller but ends with a prison sentence, 65-year-old British national Oscar Peters has been sentenced to 37 months in federal prison for defrauding a Portland woman of nearly $1.9 million in a calculated and emotionally manipulative romance scam.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon announced on June 4, 2025, that Peters will also serve three years of supervised release and must pay $1,892,439 in restitution. The story—first reported by KPTV and confirmed by the Portland Tribune—is a chilling example of how online platforms can be exploited by criminals who prey on trust and vulnerability.
A Fictional Fortune and a Real Romance
Peters’ scam began on Millionaire Match Maker, a dating site for high-net-worth individuals. He posed as a billionaire businessman living in Denmark and told the victim he was searching for a lifelong partner. Over time, the two engaged in daily phone calls and emails, fostering an intimate relationship built on elaborate lies.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Peters told the woman that his assets were frozen by his estranged wife and that he needed financial assistance to complete key business deals that would allow him to join her in Portland. With assurances of future repayment and promises of marriage, Peters persuaded the woman to wire him money repeatedly over a two-year period—money he had no intention of returning.
Legal Journey Across Continents
The scheme unraveled in 2019 when a federal grand jury in Portland returned a seven-count indictment against Peters for wire fraud. On April 9, 2020, he was arrested in the United Kingdom and remained in custody as U.S. prosecutors worked to bring him stateside.
After over three years in foreign custody, Peters was extradited to the United States on October 23, 2023. He pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud on March 26, 2024, as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors. Nearly a year later, U.S. District Court Judge Michael H. Simon handed down the sentence that capped off years of investigation and legal maneuvering.
The Emotional Toll on Victims
Though Peters’ prison term is slightly over three years, the emotional and financial wounds left behind may last a lifetime. As in many romance scams, the victim was not just defrauded of money—she was manipulated into an emotional partnership with someone she believed to be her future husband. The betrayal cuts deeper than a simple financial scam.
Experts in fraud psychology explain that these cons are successful because they are not abrupt or aggressive. Instead, they unfold slowly and intimately, building an illusion of trust. The emotional grooming—combined with fabricated urgency—can override even the most rational instincts.
A Larger Crisis
According to the Federal Trade Commission, romance scams are among the fastest-growing categories of fraud. In 2023 alone, consumers reported over $1.3 billion in losses to romance-related fraud. These crimes often go unreported due to shame or embarrassment, making the actual financial and emotional toll even higher than statistics suggest.
Scammers typically exploit dating platforms, social media, and even email to initiate relationships. Once the victim is emotionally invested, the scammer introduces an urgent financial need—legal trouble, frozen accounts, or sudden medical expenses. The con may involve forged documents, photoshopped IDs, and fake phone calls from associates to add credibility.
Prevention: Red Flags and Resources
If you’re engaging in an online relationship, here are a few ways to protect yourself:
- Insist on video calls early in the relationship. Scammers often refuse to appear on camera.
- Research the person independently. Use reverse image searches and cross-check any personal or professional claims.
- Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person.
- Be skeptical of elaborate stories involving frozen accounts, legal issues, or overseas business deals.
- Report suspicious activity to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and your local law enforcement agency.
Victims of fraud can also find emotional and legal support through organizations like the Cybercrime Support Network and RomanceScams.org, both of which offer step-by-step guides for recovery and reporting.
A Sentence, But Not Full Closure
While justice has been served in the form of incarceration and restitution, the true impact of Peters’ crime cannot be fully measured. As digital relationships become more common, so too do the risks of emotional and financial exploitation. This case should serve as a stark warning—not just to potential victims, but to tech companies, lawmakers, and communities that must be better equipped to prevent these deeply personal crimes.
If the story of Oscar Peters teaches us anything, it’s that trust is the most valuable—and most vulnerable—currency in the digital age.
For full case details, you can read the official DOJ release here.