Photo by Lorie Shaull

You might want to second guess the next time you think you’ve found a match online. They may have you putting out more than x’s and o’s.

Today, Krist Koranteng of Montgomery County was sentenced to 33 months in prison for organizing a scheme to defraud vulnerable romantics, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland. Koranteng and conspirators pretended to show interest in people via online dating sites, and persuaded them to send money to businesses and accounts registered in Koranteng’s name.

According to Koranteng’s plea agreement, the scheme consisted of initiating romantic relationships online that were furthered by phone calls, texts, and emails. Then he would use fabricated stories and promises to convince victims to mail checks or wire money. Stories included investing in fake gold, supporting sick family members, and money for plane tickets so that “love interests” could visit them.

Victims, who included several elderly folk, gave tens of thousands of dollars totaling $1,171,657, which Koranteng was ordered to pay back.

The incidents occurred between September 2012 and February 2014.

Koranteng was charged with mail and wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering, in addition to a sentence of five months in prison for violating his supervised release related to a 2013 federal drug conviction involving heroin distribution. Once he’s out of prison, he’ll be under three years of supervision.