The US treasury and the Department of Justice has announced sanctions against six Nigerians for stealing a whopping $6 million from Americans.
According to the US Treasury, the individuals conducted an elaborate scheme targeting businesses and individuals in the United States through business email compromise and romance scams.
The US treasury also revealed that Americans lost over $6 million to fraud schemes hatched by the six Nigerians who impersonated business executives requesting and receiving huge sums in wire transfers from legitimate businesses.
“Malicious actors are exploiting the increased availability of online tools and technology to target at-risk Americans.
The six individuals designated today manipulated their victims in order to gain access to usernames, passwords, and bank accounts in furtherance of the scheme. Several of those who engaged in romance fraud used online tools, including social media and email, to further their social engineering tactics.
Several of those who engaged in romance fraud used online tools, including social media and email, to further their social engineering tactics.
OFAC closely coordinated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which today released details regarding its indictment against members of the conspiracy. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) receives romance fraud victim reports from all ages, education, and income brackets. However, the elderly, women, and those who have lost a spouse are often targeted,” the Treasury department said.
E.O. 13694 SANCTIONS
Today’s action includes the designation of six individuals pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13694, as amended by E.O. 13757, which targets malicious cyber-enabled activities, including those related to the significant misappropriation of funds or economic resources for private financial gain.
As a result of today’s action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons that are in the possession or control of U.S. persons or within or transiting the United States are blocked, and U.S. persons generally are prohibited from dealing with them.
The sanctioned Nigerians include; Richard Uzuh, accused of targeting businesses thorough email scams alongside an accomplice from 2015 to 2016 causing the loss of $6.3 million by small businesses across the US.
Michael Olorunyomi, accused of romance scam and smuggling illegally obtained money through the account of his victims thereby causing the loss of over $1 million.
Alex Ogunshakin, accused of providing technical, financial and material support for Richard Uzuh is also accused of conducting business email and romance scams. He provided the bank accounts used by Uzuh and his crew to carry out fraud.
Felix Opoh, also accused of providing technical, financial and material support to Uzuh. He was also involved with romance scams and money laundering, providing hundreds of US bank accounts used to launder money from victims.
Nnamdi Benson also provided support to Uzuh and carried out his own scams as well.
Abiola Kayode, provided support and carried out small time romance scams. He fraudulently obtained US bank account details from his victims which was used to launder $69,150 in illegal wire transfers.