US Indicts Six Nigerians Over $6m Fraud

The United States on Tuesday exposed six Nigerians over alleged internet fraud worth more than six million dollars.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the suspects are Richard Uzuh, Micheal Olorunyomi, Alex Ogunshakin, Felix Okpoh, Nnamdi Benson and Abiola Kayode.

In a statement on its website, the US Department of State said the six persons “manipulated their victims to gain access to their sensitive information and financial resources”.

It explained that they targeted American businesses and individuals using “business email compromise and romance fraud” while impersonating American business executives, requesting, and receiving wire transfers from their accounts.

It added that they targeted women, especially those who just lost a spouse, deceiving them with affection through calls and constant chats until they gain their trust and swindle their unsuspecting victims.

[

US Department of Justice pronounced that “all property and interests in property of the designated persons that are in the possession or control of US persons or within or transiting the United States are blocked, and U.S. persons generally are prohibited from dealing with them”.

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, also warned, “The U.S. will not tolerate such gross misuse of technology. The United States will use all of the tools at our disposal to defend the American people and businesses from malign actors that seek to target them, including cyber-enabled actors who prey on vulnerable Americans and businesses.”

Suspects’ Profiles

Richard Uzuh, m, born April 29, 1986; Passport no, A05284868

According to the US Department of Treasury Office, Uzoh was designated pursuant to E.O. 13694, as amended, for having engaged in fraudulent cyber-enabled activities.

From early 2015 to September 2016, Uzuh and an accomplice sent emails to victims appearing as though they were coming from a company’s true business executive and would request and receive wire transfers of funds from the businesses’ accounts. He targeted over 100 businesses in a single day and a loss in excess of $6,300,000 can be attributed to a scheme he led.

Michael Olorunyomi, m, born May 12, 1983; Passport no, A50143448

Olorunyomi was designated pursuant to E.O. 13694, as amended, for having engaged in scandalous cyber-enabled activities.