US man posed as Congo leader's son A San Francisco man allegedly defrauded a Californian real estate agent and his girlfriend out of $US1.6 million ($A1.56 million) by pretending to be the son of Congo's president. The US Attorney's Office in San Francisco said on Saturday Blessed Marvelous Herve persuaded the couple to forward him the money over four years with promises of repayment, lucrative commissions, and multi-million bonuses. He also employed a collection of impressive-looking documents that included a certificate of recognition from a US senator. Instead, the agent and his partner received excuses and demands for more funds, according to an affidavit prepared by the FBI agent who investigated the case. It states Herve told the Marin County real estate agent his father wanted to buy luxury homes in the San Francisco Bay area but first needed help recovering millions of dollars seized by the US government, advances so he could rent limousines to tour potential properties, and additional help paying IRS debts and costs associated with other legal troubles. It said after the agent had given Herve about $US635,000 and "was financially broke," his girlfriend stepped in and provided another $US970,000. At 41, Herve is the same age as Joseph Kabila, who has been president of the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2001.