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Elderly woman scammed out of $2.4M over 10 years

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — An Acworth man who claims he's a financial planner and accountant is facing charges that he swindled an elderly Sandy Springs woman out of millions.

Mabasa Nehkairo, 58, is now in the Fulton County Jail in lieu of a $2 million cash bond.

"He had made contact with her through the internet, stated that he was a financial adviser for several firms," Sgt. Sam Worsham told Channel 2's Mike Petchenik.  "He had promised a return for her initial investment."

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Worsham said over a 10-year period, Nehkairo funneled $2.4 million of the 83-year-old victim's money into his own accounts, buying a home, expensive jewelry and trips overseas.

"At one time he sent her a request for over $30,000, but asked her to deposit it in $10,000 increments over three months," Worsham said.

Officials verified that all of Nehkairo's income was solely from the victim. He didn't have any other source of income.

Worsham said Nehkairo escalated the ruse by making the woman believe they were in a romantic relationship.

"There were some promises of marriage to continue the relationship," he said. "He never had intentions of marrying her. She was led to believe they were in more of a relationship than they were."

Customs agents arrested Nehkairo last week at the airport after he arrived home from a trip overseas.

"We believe this is Mr. Nehkairo's mode of getting money, so there may be additional people out there who have been defrauded by him," Worsham said. 

Neighbors of the Sandy Springs woman told Petchenik they were saddened to hear of the fraud.

"I just hope she gets back her money," said Steve Jaffe. "Elderly people need to be very careful and have the support of family that helps them manage, but sometimes elderly people can be very stubborn."

Nehkairo's daughter told Petchenik his family is "shocked" by the allegations. She said her father is, in fact, a financial planner.

She believes the victim didn’t see the returns she’d hoped for and is making the situation into something it wasn’t.