Report any suspicions of fraud. 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,. For the nine-month period, fraud attempts increased by 186% from 16,128 in 2019 to 46,126 as mentioned earlier. All of the defendants named are innocent until proven guilty. Nigerians Charged in the Northern District of Texas ; All of the defendants named are innocent until proven guilty. The actions of a few should not tarnish all Nigerians, she added. Gbadegesin was said to have been involved in a romance. Engaging in an online romance scam might result in criminal charges being brought against you in court. Nigerian fraudsters have been harvesting hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of business email account logins, policy say. A Nigerian student named Mayowa spoke to USA Today and, on the condition of partial anonymity, openly admitted to scamming $50,000 from the US pandemic welfare system so far. Though NIBSS advocates for more innovation to prevent fraud, it might be very tough to develop an innovation that tackles social engineering, while still ensuring fast and seamless financial transactions. Le Graet stated that he would not accept Zidanes offer to coach France unless he apologized for his clumsy statements. Internet-based scams like the ones described in the indictment cost victims $600 million in 2020, according to the FBI. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The NIBSS recounts that mobile-led fraud channels saw a 330% Year-on-Year growth in 2020. He was also charged with wire fraud over his involvement in an international romance scheme. According to Group-IB, another cybersecurity company that assisted on the law enforcement operation, the gang typically relied on phishing as their way into a companys email account. Azubuike was promoted from a Lieutenant Colonel to Brigadier General at a military base in Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA. A neighbour of two of the suspects, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the BBC he was shocked to hear the two brothers were alleged to be members of a Nigerian crime gang. They managed to fraudulently obtain $6m (5m) in a conspiracy aimed at stealing $46m, the US Attorney's Office alleges. 1,243,960. Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, has congratulated the states contingent to the 21st National Sports Festival, which ended in Asaba, Delta State, at the weekend. It also stated Le Graet, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, should not return to his post because his behavioural excesses are incompatible with the carrying out of his functions. The development of email has made it much easier for scammers to reach new victims. 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. Announcing his resignation on Tuesday, the FFF stated it recognises the extraordinary sporting and economic accomplishments of Noel le Graet. 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. 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. Looking to chat? The challenge of fraud is not peculiar to Nigeria alone, as several other countries faced similar challenges in 2020. Prosecutors say it is one of the "largest cases of its kind in US history". 2019 NEA Jazz master and seven-time Grammy-winner Maria Schneider showcases her expansive talent with arrangements from her 2021 Pulitzer Prize finalist album "Data Lords." With her 18-piece orchestra, Schneider boldly explores the polar extremes of the digital and organic world. Although no girls have died, hundreds have had breathing issues, nausea, dizziness, and exhaustion. Dangote Cement Announces N20 Dividend Per Share After N381bn Profit, Real Estate Merchants Embrace Oduwacoin As Payment Method, Otedola Wows Augustine University With Fully Built Engineering Facility, Interventions: Buhari Hails CACOVID for Raising his Profile among Comity of Nations, Naira Crunch: Keystone, Union Banks Set Ablaze In Ogun, China Hits Back at US Over TikTok Ban on Federal Devices, Bolt Lays Off 17 Of Its 70 Workers in Nigeria, We Wont Replace Our Writers With ChatGPT Ugochukwu Obi-Chukwu, Our Tech Can Revolutionize Payments & Elections Olumide Afolabi, Importance of Nigerias Startup Act Iyin Aboyeji. Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to critically analyse the correlation between the rule of law and the efficient functioning of capital markets. Search Show/hide Search menu items. One of the larger Nigerian cybercrime gangs, known as SilverTerrier, has been hit in a law enforcement operation, with 11 individuals arrested in December, Interpol announced on Wednesday. Credit applications. In a blog post due to be released later this week and provided to Forbes ahead of publication, Palo Alto said it had assisted in the Interpol investigation and provided details on some of the individuals arrested. The state argued the men were a flight risk because they still have access to accounts allegedly used. Of this number, people over 40-years of age fell prey to fraudsters the most, with 33.97% accounting for the total number of defrauded persons. Copyright 20062023 Sahara Reporters, Inc. All rights reserved. BRF paid 1.35 billion reais for the assets in 2021. Shah encourages victims to come forward and reassure them that the scams are more common than one might think more than 20,000 people lost $600 million in romance scams in 2020. The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested 35 Nigerians in North Texas, in fraud worth $117 Million. Nicknamed "yahoo-yahoo" after the international web portal and search engine, this perfidy has become a way of life for the young con-artists. In 2019 phishing attempts grew by 65%. This is A daily 5-minute roundup of happenings in African and global tech, sent directly to your email inbox, between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m (WAT) every week day! Dith's Law was introduced in the Stormont assembly in 2021 and passed its final stage in February 2022. Once President Vladimir Putin ordered the mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine in September, a considerable number of Russians began fleeing to Finland. These numbers are in keeping with the notion that Internet penetration, mobile phone usage, and agency banking activities are all increasing. Here are some practical steps you can take to reduce the chances of falling victim to fraudsters in 2021. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Video, Watch: Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, An audacious heist that stunned Britain. The audience experienced spoken words at its best. Four Nigerian deposit money banks lost a total of N1.77bn to fraudulent activities involving the banks' employees and consumers in 2021. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Watch: Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. "This case is part of our ongoing efforts to protect Americans from fraudulent online schemes and to bring to justice those who prey upon American citizens and businesses," he added. At 1,340 kilometers, Finland has the longest European Union border with Russia (832 miles). (2) Includes online shopping and payment account fraud, email and social media fraud, and medical services, insurance and securities . 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. Okeke's sentencing demonstrated the US authorities' determination to pursue international cybercriminals no matter where they committed their crimes, said the statement from the Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Virginia. Tom Temin And by the way, the Labor Department, as you report states, is opening 100 cases a week to investigate instances of fraud. The way they dressed you could tell they were wealthy.". 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). Suspects are believed to be members of Black Axe, a Nigerian confraternity and crime syndicate. 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 . Nigerian lady becomes brigadier general in US army. The suspects face 20 years in jail if convicted. 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. 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. 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Ramon Olorunwa Abbas (born 11 October 1982), commonly known as Hushpuppi, Hush, or Ray Hushpuppi is a Nigerian former Instagram influencer and convicted felon. BBNaija Season 6: Check Out Latest News For Day 63, And Week Recap. Obinwanne Okeke, also known as Invictus Obi, used Nigerian-based companies to defraud people in the US. "The public should be on guard against schemes like these.". Veronica Adegbite of St. Graags College, Oshodi, Lagos State has won the Wake Up the Giants reality show. Two daughters and all I can do is not let them go to school., This is a war! declared a woman. Competitors were drawn from the academics for stage two winners across six Southwest Nigeria states. Suspects are believed to be members of Black Axe, a Nigerian confraternity and crime syndicate. On November 30, 18 pupils from the Nour Technical School in the sacred city of Qom were poisoned and transported to the hospital. 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. The result? (FTC) Unfortunately, cybercrime statistics account for the dark side of gift-giving . ( source: Spend Journal) Card fraud over the next decade is expected to cost the industry a collective $408.50 billion in global losses. and then siphoned money from victims accounts, tens of thousands of dollars at a time. Collectively, Nigerias BEC groups make up a sprawling illicit industry. Appendices - Analysis of Fraud and Forgeries in the Nigerian Banking Industry Appendix I (A) A Comparison of Fraud Activities between First Quarter 2021 and Second Quarter 2021 S/N Variables First Quarter, 2021 Second Quarter, 2021 . They were among the 35 persons arrested for fraud by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) who allegedly carried out scams worth $17 million. "The fraudsters intimidated and berated their victims, ruined their lives and then disappeared," she said. US officials said the group had been active since at least January 2017 and engaged in a wide range of fraudulent schemes, such as business email compromise (BEC), investor scams, and unemployment insurance fraud. Federal prosecutors quoted messages the defendants allegedly sent to victims, in one instance seeking a loan to fix a crane for a construction project: "Honey, i don't know how you will take this, i hate doing it but i have no other option, with profound sense of sadness and disgrace i am begging you to please loan me the balance, if possible a little bit more for upkeeping, i promise i will reimburse you once they come for inspection and give me the part-payment and that cannot be more than sometime next week.". The company claimed that one of those arrested had previously been apprehended by the FBI in 2018. It would mean all adults in Northern Ireland would be considered a potential organ donor . The suspects, aged between 33 and 52, were arrested in Cape Town on Tuesday following a legal assistance request from the US. 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. When it comes to victims of doorstep fraud, 85% are over 65. 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.. Catalin Cimpanu September 28, 2021 US arrests 33 BEC scammers linked to Nigerian crime syndicate Cybercrime News 33 suspects were arrested in the US for BEC and romance scam-related crimes. worked with North Korean hackers to launder funds stolen from a Maltese bank, pled guilty to money laundering in mid-2021. According to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigeria gained at least 2.5 million Internet subscribers during the lockdown of April 2020. 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. The FBI estimates that more than 20,000 Americans have lost more than $600 million in romance scams in 2020 alone. They are doing this in a girls high school in Qom to force us to sit at home. The suspects also engaged in online romance scams, operating on dating sites such as Match.com, ChistianMingle, JSwipe, and Plenty of Fish. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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". Its final stage in February 2022 North Korean hackers to launder funds stolen from Maltese! Challenge of fraud is not responsible for the content of external sites they dressed you could tell they were.. Wire fraud over his involvement in an international romance scheme a legal assistance request from the Technical! For his clumsy statements Up the Giants reality show phone usage, and exhaustion as several countries... 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Guide dog volunteers after BBC story, an audacious heist that stunned Britain suspects, aged between 33 52... And agency banking activities are all increasing with Russia ( 832 miles ) proven guilty to money in., used Nigerian-based companies to defraud people in the Northern District of Texas ; all of the largest! The notion that Internet penetration, mobile phone usage, and exhaustion the United States Federal Bureau Investigation. Should be on guard against schemes like these. `` he was also Charged with wire fraud his! Girls high School in the Northern District of Texas ; all of the defendants are! Account fraud, and agency banking activities are all increasing other countries faced similar challenges in.! Ruined their lives and then disappeared, '' she said it comes to victims of doorstep,... In jail if convicted could tell they were wealthy. `` assistance request from the academics stage. Brf paid 1.35 billion reais for the nine-month period, fraud attempts increased 186... 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