Online scamming: 'If it doesn't look right, don't trust it'. There were also calls for him to resign following comments he made against Zinedine Zidane, the former French player who led Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League victories. They assumed fake names and trolled dating sites like Match.com, ChistianMingle, JSwipe, and PlentyofFish, searching for targets. By enabling special filtering of emails, the cybercriminals ensured that interesting emails (containing payment information) addressed to the victim are first redirected to fraudsters fake email boxes or are hidden from the victim in service directories, a company spokesperson told Forbes. They are facing extradition charges to the United States. Gbadegesin, who was arrested in Nigeria in September 2021, was sentenced on Friday. Other Americans fell victim to the defendants' romance scams, believing they were in romantic relationships with someone using an alias and, when requested, the victims sent money and items of value to South Africa, the indictment said. ( source: Nilson Report) A full bail application was set down for next Tuesday and Thursday pending an extradition hearing. For the nine-month period, fraud attempts increased by 186% from 16,128 in 2019 to 46,126 as mentioned earlier. Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. In total, authorities said the group stole and laundered more than $17 million, funds they acquired from at least 100 victims, according tocourt documentsobtained byThe Record. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigeria recorded a slight GDP growth of 0.51% (year-on-year) in the first quarter of 2021, slower than the 1.87% growth recorded in Q1 2020 and higher than 0.11% recorded in Q4 of 2020. Using photos, text, and video dynamically, the site informs and prompts concerned African citizens and activists globally to act, denouncing officially-sanctioned corruption, the material impoverishment of its citizenry, defilement of the environment, and the callous disregard of the democratic principles enshrined in the constitution. He was named as FIFA president Gianni Infantinos delegate in the organizations new Paris headquarters in January 2022. Read about our approach to external linking. Read about our approach to external linking. The rate of fraud in Nigeria increased exponentially in the last year. It is alleged they preyed on their victims through dating sites using false identities. He previously worked at ZDNet and Bleeping Computer, where he became a well-known name in the industry for his constant scoops on new vulnerabilities, cyberattacks, and law enforcement actions against hackers. 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks trip of lifetime for TikToker, Anorexia: 'I made the podcast I wish I'd listened to', Arena bombing family 'let down at every level', An undercover investigation on tea producing plantations find shocking conditions. Downloadable (with restrictions)! People between the ages of 20 and 40 account for 35% of those reports. Once President Vladimir Putin ordered the mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine in September, a considerable number of Russians began fleeing to Finland. In September 2021, Gbadegesin was arrested over. You are obliged to ensure my childrens safety! Hushpuppi, whose real name is Ramon Abbas, was. The authorities have listed a total of 252 charges against the 80 suspects. ABUJA, July 29 (Reuters) - A Nigerian police chief has denied involvement in what a U.S. indictment describes as an elaborate scheme to defraud a Qatari businessperson of more than $1 million,. Check your credit report regularly for signs of unusual activity. The document also detailed that the Nursing School 1 students paid between $6,000 and $18,000 for the transcripts and certificates, the report added. They made fraudulent wire transfers to the value of nearly $11m, and moved the funds overseas. 10:35 am, Eleven Nigerians have been indicted by the United States authorities for defrauding elderly Americans in romance scams. A 48-year-old Nigerian has been arrested in India for duping a diamond broker from south Mumbai of Rs 1.16 crore or $217,000. The food company is working with Santander SA's Brazilian unit to sell the division for about 2 billion reais ($384 million), the people said, asking not to be named since the discussions are private. Using photos, text, and video dynamically, the site informs and prompts concerned African citizens and activists globally to act, denouncing officially-sanctioned corruption, the material impoverishment of its citizenry, defilement of the environment, and the callous disregard of the democratic principles enshrined in the constitution. Almost 100,000 people reported about $770 million in losses to fraud . Nigeria's annual inflation rate reduced slightly to 17.75% in June 2021 from 17.93% in May. About the audit, it said, The FFF observes that the report is based less on objective facts than on opinions that have occasionally led to excessive bad-mouthing of the body.. Perhaps the best-known Nigerian BEC fraudster is Ramon Hushpuppi Abbas, who found fame as an Instagram influencer, but was charged with conspiring to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from BEC frauds and other scams. According to the Border Guard, it will be 3m (10ft) tall with barbed wire on top. South Africa's TimeLive reported the Hawks were searching for a ninth man connected to the case. A 252-count federal grand jury indictment unsealed Thursday charged 77 Nigerian nationals with participating in a massive conspiracy to steal millions of dollars through a variety of fraud. The Federal Trade Commission received more than 2.1 million fraud reports from consumers in 2020, according to newly released data, with imposter scams remaining the most common type of fraud repor . Alaafin of Oyo passes away at 83, after over 50 years on the throne, Liverpool tame Wolves to climb into top six, Martinelli stars as leaders Arsenal crush Everton to go five points clear, Britain's Prince Harry loses home on royal estate, PDP senator-elect lauds C/Rivers Gov. 2023 BBC. About 60 men from various police units spent about six hours collecting evidence at the properties. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Since then, more than ten girls schools in the neighboring province have been attacked. All rights reserved, In 2020, Nigeria lost 5b to fraud in 9 months: What you need to watch out for, Journalist feasting on tech, business, and policies. Some FFF members have stated that Le Graet would continue to work for international governing organization FIFA. Judy Middleton, 70, of Ridgeland, Mississippi, is accused by federal prosecutors. Eleven of the arrests were made in the Northern District of Texas while 24 arrests were made in the Eastern District of Texas. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan are being evicted from their home on the British royal family's Windsor estate, a spokesperson said Wednesday, leaving them without a UK base. Prosecutors say it is one of the "largest cases of its kind in US history". They are accused of using business email fraud schemes and romance scams to con victims - many of them elderly. The SilverTerrier gang is known as one of the more successful BEC fraud groups, and Interpol said initial analysis of one of the 11 suspects computers indicated they were in possession of more than 800,000 usernames and passwords, which could potentially have been used to hack into company email accounts. On November 30, 18 pupils from the Nour Technical School in the sacred city of Qom were poisoned and transported to the hospital. Who was St David, the patron saint of Wales? Shah encourages victims to come forward and reassures them that the scams are more common than one might think, disclosing that more than 20,000 people lost $600million in romance scams in 2020. Another suspect was part of an organization called The Money Team (or TMT), which has ostensibly legitimate businesses, including one that makes professional cakes and another that claims to be one of Nigerias biggest travel and tour providers. Millennials account for around 35% of fraud cases in the US. The defendants use alias names and trolled dating sites like Match.com, ChistianMingle, JSwipe, and PlentyofFish, to prey on vulnerable targets like widowed or divorced. These so-called BEC scams help criminals find a way to intercept emails, either via hacking into accounts or spoofing email addresses, and trick companies into sending funds to the fraudsters rather than business partners with whom they believed they were interacting. He said the schemes allegedly perpetrated by the Nigerians charged this week were particularly insidious because they played on people's emotions. According to NBC, officials with the U.S. Attorney's Northern and Eastern Districts of Texas and the FBI . Joseph Akeredolu is part of a gang that creates fake accounts on social media lures people through the accounts and then dupes them under the pretext of sending gifts, According to Indian police, [] Authorities in the US, where the investigation originated and most of the alleged victims are based, have applied for their extradition. I have two daughters, one father shouted in a video widely shared on social media. As the victims open their hearts, the perpetrators open their wallets, Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah said at a press conference announcing the charges. Associate editor at Forbes, covering cybercrime, privacy, security and surveillance. What did the government do about Covid and care homes? From August 8, 2008 to June 30, 2013, Nursing School 1 was a nursing school in Virginia until it was shut down for violating certain state regulations by the Virginia Board. The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested 35 Nigerians in North Texas, in fraud worth $117 Million. As pointed out in this piece, humans will always be the weakest link in the most sophisticated firewalls and advanced technologies, and theres a need for companies to engage in more customer and employee education. Required fields are marked *. In 2020, two separate FBI undercover operations obtained the fraudulent degrees and approximately 175 of Nwaokwus nursing graduates have applied to the Maryland Board of Nursing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested 35 Nigerian internet fraudsters for their alleged involvement in a romance scam worth $17 million in the United States.. Gross losses from gift card fraud in 2021 exceed $148 million. The 11 persons were arrested in a Wednesday morning operation and have been charged for a number of financial crimes, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. This operation was novel in its approach in that it didnt target the easily identifiable money mules or flashy Instagram influencers who are typically seen benefiting from these schemes. "Once a week about 10 luxury cars would arrive and leave again in a few hours. David Animashaun, 38 arrested in DFW, charged with wire fraud conspiracy, Oluwalobamise Michael Moses, 40 arrested in DFW, charged with wire fraud conspiracy, Irabor Fatarr Musa, 51 arrested in the Eastern District of Texas, charged by the Northern District of Texas wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, Ijeoma Okoro, 31 arrested in DFW, wire fraud conspiracy fraud, money laundering conspiracy, Chukwemeka Orji, 36 arrested in DFW, charged with wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, Emanuel Stanley Orji, 35 arrested in DFW, charged with wire fraud conspiracy, Frederick Orji, 37 arrested in Dallas, charged with wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, Uwadiale Esezobor, 36 arrested in Lubbock, charged with mail & wire fraud conspiracy, Victor Idowu, 36 arrested in Los Angeles, charged with mail & wire fraud conspiracy, Afeez Abiola Alao, 37 wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, Ambrose Sunday Ohide, 47 wire fraud conspiracy. Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. They want girls to stay at home.. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Sake brewers toast big rise in global sales, The Indian-American CEO who wants to be US president, How 10% of Nigerian registered voters delivered victory, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions. If convicted, the defendants face up 20 years in federal prison on the wire fraud conspiracy counts and up to 10 years in federal prison on the money laundering conspiracy counts. Key Points Consumers reported losing more than $5.8 billion to fraud in 2021, a 70% increase over the prior year, the Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday. Since November, over 700 girls have been poisoned by poisonous gas in Iran, in what many believe is a premeditated attempt to compel their schools to close. Eleven Nigerians have been indicted by the United States authorities for defrauding elderly Americans in romance scams. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Watch: Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. A notorious Instagram influencer from Nigeria has been jailed for more than 11 years in the US for his role in an international fraud syndicate. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); French Football Association head Noel le Graet has resigned following a devastating study into the institution and charges of sexual harassment. The Nigerian Police Force (NPF) has arrested 11 alleged members of a prolific cybercrime network as part of a national police operation coordinated with INTERPOL. "Honey, i don't know how you will take this," began one alleged scam message. The FBI has arrested 33 individuals across Texas for a series of cybercrime-related activities, including BEC and romance scams. If convicted, the defendants face up 20 years in federal prison on the wire fraud conspiracy counts and up to 10 years in federal prison on the money laundering conspiracy counts. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. One, two, three, four, five, 42, 43 and 44 long years later, the Land Use Decree of 1978, promulgated by the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo, now retired, remains the governing law on land use in Nigeria. Internet fraud, identity theft, and bank fraud, among other crimes, are all prohibited under federal law. SaharaReporters.com is an outstanding, groundbreaking news website that encourages citizen journalists to report ongoing corruption and government malfeasance in Africa. and then siphoned money from victims accounts, tens of thousands of dollars at a time. The suspects, aged between 33 and 52, were arrested in Cape Town on Tuesday following a legal assistance request from the US. A Nigerian businessman, who once appeared on the cover of Forbes magazine, has been jailed for 10 years in the US over a cyber fraud scam that led to the theft of about $11m (8m). According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria gained at least 2.5 million Internet subscribers during the lockdown of April 2020. Peoples Gazette reported that court documents state the medical doctor was arraigned alongside his associates, Musa Bangura and Johanah Napoleon, on charges of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud; conspiracy to commit false statements relating to health care matters, and false statements relating to health care matters". The suspects also engaged in online romance scams, operating on dating sites such as Match.com, ChistianMingle, JSwipe, and Plenty of Fish. Finland chose to erect the fence in response to an increase in Russians attempting to avoid conscription to fight in Ukraine. Few were surprised when they learned that Hushpuppi had pleaded guilty in April. The FBI in a statement said in an investigation led by the FBI and the assistance of the IRS Criminal Investigation, Gloria Okolie and Paul Aisosa, both Nigerian nationals residing in Dallas,. But Nigerians were stunned on July 28th when court documents were unsealed implicating their most famous cop, Abba . Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said Infantino had seized the chance to utilise Noels qualities, adding if that implies indirectly that it comes at a good moment for Noel, its a wonderful thing. "Americans are too often victimized by criminal organizations located abroad who use the internet to deceive those victims, defraud them of money, and, many times, persuade the victims to wittingly or unwittingly assist in perpetuating the fraudulent schemes," acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig said. Adegbites poem on domestic violence won. Feb. 28, 2023), INEC State Official In Rivers Alleges Threat To Life, The First Thing I Will Do As President-elect -Peter Obi, How Power-drunk Yahaya Bello Excavated Highway To Restrict INEC Officials, How To Unclog Your Arteries & Prevent A Heart Attack, EXPLAINER: How You Can Monitor Live Election Results. Cases in the last year does n't look right, do n't trust it.! Tens of thousands of dollars at a time extradition charges to the case of unusual.! 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