Suspected members of Nigeria-linked Black Axe crime gang arrested in Switzerland

Suspected members of the Nigerian-linked Black Axe crime gang have ​been arrested in Switzerland accused of ‌involvement in romance scams and cyberfraud, Europol said on Tuesday.

Black Axe grew out of ​a student fraternity in the late ​1970s called the Neo Black Movement ⁠of Africa, and it has since ​evolved into a structured, violent criminal organisation ​often dealing in financial cybercrime.

"The suspects are accused of numerous crimes. This includes romance scams ​and other cyberfraud offences causing millions ​of Swiss francs in damages, as well as ‌money ⁠laundering," said Europol, which is headquartered in The Hague, in a statement.

The pan-European police body said 10 people - most ​of whom ​are of ⁠Nigerian origin - had been arrested in the operation that ​also involved German police.
The Swiss operation ​against ⁠the Black Axe crime gang follows a similar operation carried out by Spanish ⁠police ​in January, while global ​police body Interpol had also targeted it in ​2023.

Reuters

Police arrest Nigerian man over $550,000 scam targeting American woman

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a suspect over an alleged $550,000 cyber fraud targeting an American woman.

The suspect, identified as Emwanta Smith, was arrested on 26 March in Benin City, Edo State, by operatives working through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau Abuja, the police said.

In a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja, Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon, said the arrest followed a four-day intelligence-led operation conducted between 23 March and 26 March after a formal complaint by the victim.

The police said preliminary findings indicated that the suspect allegedly posed as high-ranking government officials and other prominent figures to gain the victim’s confidence.

He was said to have subsequently persuaded her to transfer funds via cryptocurrency channels over the period from October 2025 to January 2026.

“Investigations revealed that the suspect used false identities of notable personalities to deceive the victim and induce payments via digital currency platforms,” Mr Okon said.

He said proceeds of the alleged fraud were traced to the acquisition of five vehicles and an uncompleted building in Benin City, which have now been secured as exhibits.

He also disclosed that counterfeit cash valued at $10,000 was recovered from the suspect at the time of arrest.

Mr Okon said investigations are ongoing and reiterated the police’s commitment to tackling cybercrime, particularly schemes that exploit cross-border anonymity and digital financial systems.

Pattern of scams targeting Americans

In July 2020, PREMIUM TIMES reported how the Nigerian police arrested a suspected internet fraudster, Chukwuebuka Obiaku, who allegedly lured an American woman to Nigeria under the guise of marriage and extorted $48,000.

Some cases have had fatal consequences. In October 2023, a US citizen died by suicide after losing his life savings to a romance scam carried out by a network of fraudsters, including Nigerians based in the US and Nigeria.

In February this year, a Nigerian, Afeez Adewale, was extradited to the US to stand trial for offences, including sexual extortion, wire fraud and a death linked to the scheme.

Earlier, in April 2025, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said it arrested 22 Nigerian cyber fraud suspects accused of sexually blackmailing and extorting minors in the US.

Edo State has featured prominently in several high-profile cyber fraud cases.

In September 2023, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) handed over a three-bedroom semi-detached duplex in Edo State to American victim Cheryldene Cook, who was scammed by Aisosa Ohue after paying N104 million in a romance scam.

In May 2025, the EFCC traced $30,000 in laundered funds from the activities of an internet fraudster in Auchi, Edo State

By Ekemini Simon, Premium Times

Related stories: Court convicts two Chinese nationals for cyber-terrorism, N3.4bn fraud

Alleged ‘Fake Prince’ Arrested in Nigeria as Another Apparent Victim of the Romance Scam Comes Forward

Alleged ‘Fake Prince’ Arrested in Nigeria as Another Apparent Victim of the Romance Scam Comes Forward

Within a week of the release of an OCCRP documentary exposing an online fraud operation, Nigerian authorities arrested a man allegedly involved in the scheme, while another apparent victim of the same scam came forward in Romania.

In last month's documentary, Exposed: Fake ‘Dubai Prince’ Tracked to Nigeria, reporters identified Nzube Henry Ikeji, 31, who was afterwards taken into custody. Charges have not been filed, a spokesman for Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crime Commission told OCCRP.

Ikeji’s arrest came nearly a week after the video revealed how he allegedly posed as the real-life Crown Prince of Dubai, cultivating a romance that defrauded $2.5 million from Laura, a Romanian businesswoman.

A second apparent victim of the scam came forward to OCCRP's Romanian member center Context.ro after watching the documentary. Ana, who is also Romanian, presented Context.ro with documents indicating she was targeted by the same operation that left Laura in debt.

Both women were first contacted on LinkedIn by someone posing as the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and claiming to represent a humanitarian foundation affiliated with the royal family of the United Arab Emirates.

Communications provided by the women show that Ana first heard from the fake prince in October 2022, while he reached out to Laura a month later. Both were offered and accepted “an official vip humanitarian membership permit” for the sum of 7,748 UAE dirhams, which was paid out as 1,850 euros ($2,112).

It is common for romance scammers to impersonate the Crown Prince of Dubai in a variation of the classic romance scam, which involves an impersonator cultivating an online relationship with a victim with the goal of milking them for as much money as possible before they realize they’ve been swindled.

In the case of both Laura and Ana, identical email addresses with similar messages and fake royal membership cards were used, indicating they were victims of the same group of scammers. Laura is a first name and Ana is pseudonym, as both victims wish to remain anonymous out of embarrassment.

Ikeji could not be reached for comment on the latest allegations involving Ana. An email bounced back undelivered, while his previous lawyers did not respond to a request for comment. Message to his WhatsApp did not deliver. He previously told reporters that he did not scam Laura or anyone else, and alleged that OCCRP’s documentary was a “targeted plan” to destroy his reputation.

The woman whom Context.ro identifies as Ana said she was invited by the fake prince to apply for a job at Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the humanitarian foundation launched by the actual crown prince’s father and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Laura, meanwhile, was asked by a fake prince to help MBRGI invest millions of dollars in humanitarian aid in Romania.

Neither of the opportunities were real. After they paid 1,850 euros for “official vip humanitarian membership permit” cards, both received messages saying their cards had been granted, but required another payment to be activated. Ana paid another 10,550 euros ($12,045), while Laura paid 12,550 euros ($14,328).

A fake prince had earlier steered their communications to Skype and later to WhatsApp, where he cultivated romances with them.

He told Ana that he wanted to visit her in Romania, but it would require Ana transferring 42,000 euros ($47,951). When Ana refused to send more money that she did not have, the fake prince texted her: “Now you’ve lost me and the 13,000 euros you have paid.”

While Ana stopped at that point, Laura continued deeper into the scam, exchanging thousands of messages over two years with the fake prince and even meeting his “financial manager” in London to facilitate opening a bank account.

By Marionela Toma, OCCRP

Related stories: Nigerian extradited to US for sextortion, death of an American

Nigerian man handed 76-year sentence in sextortion of B.C. boy

Nigeria loses billions annually to employee fraud report finds

A new report warned that employee fraud costs Nigerian small businesses nearly $7 billion annually. Analysts say internal theft and financial manipulation threaten the stability of MSMEs, which play a critical role in job creation and economic development.

CGTN Africa

Nigerian extradited to US for sextortion, death of an American

A Nigerian, Afeez Adewale, appeared before the US federal court in Philadelphia on Tuesday after he was extradited from Nigeria for his involvement in a wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy that led to the death of a young American.

He was extradited from Nigeria last Friday by Federal Bureau of Investigation representatives in Nigeria, who had taken him into custody since August 2023.

Mr Adewale is charged with the sexual extortion and death of a young US citizen in the eastern district of Pennsylvania, according to a statement by the US Department of Justice.

“Adewale is charged by indictment with wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy,” the statement disclosed.

The department also noted that Mr Adewale, who was arrested in Nigeria in August, is part of a wider operation with the FBI to apprehend sexual extortionists who target minors in the US.

Two members of his team had been extradited from Nigeria and sentenced in 2024. The department identified the two as Imoleayo Aina, also known as “Alice Dave,” and Samuel Abiodun.

They were extradited to the US in August 2024.

Mr Abiodun pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy and wire fraud and was sentenced to five years in prison. While Mr Aina pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, interstate threat to injure reputation, receiving proceeds of extortion, money laundering conspiracy, and wire fraud, and was sentenced to six years in prison.

The US Justice Department also said the extradition, through the “support and assistance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), months after his arrest, was essential to this effort.”

It also said “Nigeria’s Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Justice’s International Criminal Justice Cooperation Department” provided support.

This is the latest case of a Nigerian extradited to the US for cyber fraud.

Nigeria’s first extradition treaty with the US was signed by the colonial government in 1931.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that in 2023, two Nigerians, Samuel Ogoshi and Samson Ogoshi, were extradited to the US from Nigeria after they were indicted for sexually extorting numerous teenage boys in Michigan.

Another case was reported in 2019 involving 56-year-old Adedeji Adeniran, who was extradited to the Northern District of Florida.

One notable high-profile extradition from Nigeria to the US involved Fatade Olamilekan, who was extradited in July 2022 to face charges related to a $3.5 million fraud scheme.

Mr Olamilekan had been on the FBI’s wanted list for allegedly stealing over $3.5 million worth of equipment and had his extradition coordinated by the EFCC.

By Beloved John, Premium Times

Related story: How sextortion scammers in Nigeria targeted my son

Court convicts two Chinese nationals for cyber-terrorism, N3.4bn fraud

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday convicted two Chinese nationals, Huang Haoyu and An Hongxu, on cyber-terrorism and a N3.4 billion fraud charges.

The convicts, alongside one Friday Audu, were among a syndicate of 792 fraudsters arrested for cryptocurrency, investment and romance fraud on 19 December 2024 in Lagos.

They were arrested during a surprise operation tagged ‘Eagle Flush Operation’ by the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) operatives.

Some of the suspects had been convicted and sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment in separate trials last year.

On Wednesday, trial judge Daniel Osiagor convicted Haoyou and Hongxu after they changed their pleas from “not guilty” to “guilty” during Wednesday’s proceedings.

The judge imposed cumulative 46 years’ imprisonment on each of the two convicts, according to a statement by the prosecution agency, EFCC, on Wednesday.

The statement did not disclose the breakdown of the sentences attracted by each of the offences of which they were convicted. That would have revealed the maximum number of years the convicts would spend in prison, since the prison terms on imposed on them for each charge are likely to run concurrently.

But the statement said the judge gave the convicts an option of a N56 million fine.

He also ordered that they undertake three days of community service and be repatriated to their home country after serving their sentences.

The case was adjourned until 29 April, for the continuation of trial of the third defendant, Friday Audu, who maintained his plea of not guilty.

Plea reversal

Messrs Huanthe g and Hongxu were arraigned alongside Mr Audu and a company, Genting International Co. Ltd., by the EFCC’s Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 on seven counts of cyber-terrorism, internet fraud and money laundering.

The charges involve N3,407,824,740.78 and $2,562,203 allegedly traced to the syndicate.

At the resumed hearing on 11 February, lawyer to the first and third defendants, Bridget Omateno, informed the court that Messrs Huang and Hongxu wished to change their pleas.

When the charges were re-read, both defendants pleaded guilty, while Mr Audu maintained his earlier plea.

Following the plea change, prosecution lawyer Bilikisu Bala-Buhari urged the court to impose the maximum penalty of life imprisonment on counts one to three and 14 years on counts four to seven.

The court subsequently convicted and sentenced the two men.

The offences

According to the EFCC, the defendants conspired in 2024 to access computer systems in a manner capable of seriously destabilising Nigeria’s economic and social structures.

They were accused of recruiting and employing Nigerian youths to falsely pose as foreign nationals on online platforms to defraud unsuspecting victims through cryptocurrency investment scams and romance fraud.

The offences contravene Sections 18 and 27 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015 (as amended in 2024), as well as provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

The EFCC also alleged that between August and December 2024, the defendants retained N3.4 billion in a Union Bank account belonging to Genting International Co. Ltd., knowing the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities.

The anti-graft agency said the defendants were among 792 suspected cybercrime operatives arrested on 19 December 2024, during a coordinated operation in Lagos codenamed “Eagle Flush.”

In a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale said investigations revealed that Mr Audu incorporated Genting International Co. Ltd. at the directive of Mr Huang to facilitate the alleged fraudulent scheme.

Forfeiture

The court ordered the forfeiture of items recovered from four properties in Victoria Island and Ikoyi to the Federal Government.

Recovered items include 1,596 mobile phones, 43 computer systems, 194 routers, a network server, thousands of SIM cards, 126 air-conditioning units, generators, vehicles, office furniture, mattresses and bunk beds.

Bail to defendant

Earlier in the proceedings, Mr Osiagor granted Mr Audu bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties, one of whom must be a serving director and property owner with verifiable title documents deposited in court.

However, bail was denied to the two Chinese nationals prior to their guilty pleas after the EFCC argued that they were flight risks and key figures in the alleged syndicate.

By Emmanuel Agbo, Premium Times

Related story: Epstein wanted to trade in Nigeria’s crude oil, but feared being defrauded

Nigeria deports 60 Chinese, 39 Filipino convicted in crypto romance scams

Nigeria has deported 102 foreign nationals, including 60 Chinese and 39 people from the Philippines, who were convicted of “cyber-terrorism and internet fraud”, according to the country’s anticorruption agency.

The announcement by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday comes as the country steps up a crackdown on online scam operations, which lured victims through online romances to hand over cash for fake cryptocurrency investments.

EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale later told the AFP news agency that another group of 39 Filipinos, 10 Chinese and two people from Kazakhstan had also been deported since August 15.

More deportations were also scheduled in the coming days, he added.

The anticorruption agency released pictures of Asian men wearing surgical face masks, lined up at airport check-in counters.

The deportees were among 792 suspected cybercriminals arrested in a single operation in the affluent Victoria Island area of Lagos in December. At least 192 of those arrested were foreign nationals, of whom 148 were Chinese, the EFCC said.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has a reputation for internet fraudsters known in local slang as “Yahoo Boys”, and the EFCC has busted several hideouts where young crime suspects learn online scamming skills.

According to the agency, foreign gangs recruit Nigerian accomplices to find victims online through phishing scams. The attackers typically try to deceive victims into transferring money or revealing sensitive information such as passwords to accounts.

The scams target mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans and Europeans, the EFCC said.

Experts say the fraudulent investment schemes used by cyber-scammers have become increasingly sophisticated and dynamic as they leverage the latest technologies and digital tools.

The schemes ultimately leave victims – many of whom invest their savings, business capital, and borrowed money – unable to do anything but watch their hard-earned money disappear.

Experts also warn that foreign “cybercrime syndicates” have set up shop in Nigeria to exploit its weak cybersecurity systems.

Al Jazeera

Nigerian man handed 76-year sentence in sextortion of B.C. boy

Nigeria’s financial crimes agency says a man who tried to blackmail a Surrey, B.C., teenager by posting his intimate images online has been sentenced to prison terms totalling 76 years.

RCMP have said that the boy’s sudden death in 2023 came after he fell victim to “financial sextortion.”

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission says in social media posts that Olukeye Adedayo faced 18 charges, including possession and distribution of child pornography, attempted extortion by threats and money laundering.

It says Adedayo set up an Instagram account using the boy’s name to distribute the images, which the RCMP said the 14-year-old thought he sent to a teenage girl in an online interaction that was over within minutes.

The Nigerian agency says Adedayo pleaded not guilty to all counts but a judge convicted him of all charges and sentenced him last Thursday.

However, the agency said the 18 sentences are to run concurrently, suggesting the longest sentence he’ll serve is seven years for each of four counts of obtaining property under false pretences.

The commission says the prosecution witnesses included a sergeant with the RCMP Serious Crime Unit.

By Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press

Related story: FBI nabs Nigerian over teen sextortion, gets five years

FBI nabs Nigerian over teen sextortion, gets five years

A Nigerian national, Samuel Abiodun, has been sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in the United States after pleading guilty to his role in an online sextortion scheme that led to the death of a teenage boy.

Abiodun, 25, was arrested in Nigeria alongside an accomplice, Afeez Aina, by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and extradited to the US in July 2024. He was sentenced on Tuesday by Judge Joel Slomsky of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

According to US Attorney David Metcalf, Abiodun served as a financial middleman in a network that targeted and extorted vulnerable young people online, with devastating consequences.

Speaking on the role Abiodun played in the conspiracy, Metcalf said, “As the financial middleman, Abiodun played a key role in this sextortion scheme, which thoroughly traumatised the victim and then devastated his family.”

“These scammers’ sole aim is to get money from scared and vulnerable young people, with absolutely no regard for their feelings or the potential fallout. In prosecuting this case, we are bringing to justice the men whose actions resulted in truly indelible harm”.

Abiodun pleaded guilty in December 2024 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud. Prosecutors said his role was pivotal in channelling the extorted funds from victims to the perpetrators in Nigeria.

His co-accused, Aina, pleaded guilty last month to cyberstalking, interstate threats, and receiving proceeds of extortion, among other charges. He is scheduled to be sentenced on 11 August and faces up to life in prison.

A third suspect, Afeez Adewale, has also been charged but remains in Nigeria, pending extradition.

The US Department of Justice praised the collaboration of Nigerian authorities, including the Attorney General’s office, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for their role in apprehending the suspects.

“This case shows the reach of US law enforcement,” Metcalf said. “If you target Americans online from abroad, we will find you — and you will be brought to justice.”

The victim, whose identity was withheld, died by suicide after being targeted in the online sextortion plot.

By Kareem Azeez, The Guardian

Related story: Nigerian crime gangs are targeting young British boys in 'sextortion' scams

Top officials barred from travel amid Nigeria's $2.9 billion oil refinery fraud

In a recent development, the Nigerian Immigration Service confiscated the passports of multiple officials accused of mismanaging funds set aside for the reconstruction of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Companies.

“We received 16 names some days ago with instructions to flag them. This means they should not be allowed to travel out of the country,” an anonymous source within the Nigerian Immigration Service revealed.

The repair of these facilities drew widespread attention last year after news surfaced that the government had made significant progress in restoring facilities that had been inoperable for decades.

However, the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently made arrests in connection with the mismanagement of $2,956,872,622.36, which was intended to be used to restore the refineries to full operation.

As per a report by the Punch, the EFCC was looking into the distribution of $656,963,938 to the Warri refinery, $740,669,600 to the Kaduna refinery, and $1,559,239,084.36 to the Port Harcourt refinery.

“Some have been arrested already, and we are still on the lookout for others. Nigerians are interested in seeing our refineries work. We are asking: where is the money, and what has happened to the refineries?” an anonymous EFCC official stated.


Rehabilitation plans for Nigeria’s oil refineries in recent years

In August 2023, the Nigerian government disclosed that it planned to have all four of its oil refineries operational after being out of order for decades.

Many assessed that the move was in response to the Dangote refinery, which at the time threatened to control a monopoly of all locally refined fuel.

Prior to the inauguration of the Dangote Refinery, Nigeria, Africa's largest oil producer, imported almost all of its refined petroleum needs, owing to limited capacity and poor maintenance of its refineries.

The 110,000-barrel Kaduna plant in the north, as well as three facilities in the oil-rich Niger delta, including the 125,000-barrel Warri refinery, are among four dilapidated state-owned refineries that used to produce 4450,000 barrels per day in total.

The Port Harcourt refinery in 2023 was said to be undergoing a $1.5 billion makeover after Italy's Tecnimont was awarded the contract for the work.

The oil ministry estimated that the renovation would take 44 months to complete.

Fast forward to a year later, and the conversations had pivoted from rehabilitation to operational.

Several headlines, late last year, showed that the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries were fully operational and producing gasoline.

However, the operation of these refineries has been marred by poor output, constant shutdown for repairs, and dissatisfaction among workers.

Additionally, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited revealed that N80bn was found in the account of one of the sacked MDs.

By Chinedu Okafor, Business Insider Africa

Nigeria battles growing money laundering menace

Nigeria's reputation as one of Africa's economic powerhouses is blighted somewhat by a surge in international and inter-state financial crimes, marked by high rates of money laundering, cybercrimes, currency counterfeiting and other financial infractions.

This paradox of economic growth – the World Bank projects Nigeria's economy to expand by 3.5% in 2025 despite global uncertainties – and a widening spectrum of financial fraud has triggered a surveillance overdrive across the West African nation over the past few months.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria's primary financial fraud watchdog, has already arraigned a suspect arrested in March at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, the country's economic hub.

According to court filings, the flyer allegedly failed to declare US $578,000 in cash, resulting in four charges, including money laundering and counterfeiting.

Shuaibu Idris Miqati, who heads the Lagos-based financial intelligence advisory firm Time-Line Consult Ltd, sees the trend as reflecting the inherent disadvantages of an almost open and interconnected global economic system.

"International air travellers being routinely intercepted with undeclared cash while leaving or arriving in Nigeria suggests that loopholes remain, although prevalence was higher in previous years," Miqati tells TRT Afrika.

"There are signs of exacerbating corruption and a crime network whose reach now extends beyond Nigerian shores."

Systemic factors

Nigeria's customs regulations prohibit cash carry-on exceeding $10,000, which means anyone wanting to breach the limit has to employ one or more of multiple illegal options.

Arrests, particularly at airports, frequently involve travellers attempting to move money from illegal activities such as human trafficking, drug smuggling and illegal mining.

Money laundering typically refers to the offence of concealing the origins of ill-gotten money, often through complex banking transfers or commercial transactions. These methods are not only illegal but also damaging to the economy.

"Transactions outside the purview of the banking system undermine the economy. When a significant portion of financial dealings goes unreported, economic indicators like GDP become skewed, affecting taxation, planning and economic policies," explains Miqati.

Laundering also enables kleptocracy or political looting and fuels organised crime, including racketeering, human and drug trafficking, cybercrime, tax evasion and terrorism.

Central Bank of Nigeria, the country's apex bank, has launched a campaign against currency smuggling while promoting financial inclusion.

Inflation hedging

So, why do individuals and even business entities risk smuggling hard currencies despite sophisticated airport surveillance systems?

Miqati points to Nigeria's prevailing inflationary crises, including erosion of household and business incomes, as a driving factor.

"There is an increasing tendency to 'invest' in foreign currencies, which some people see as a stable defence against domestic inflationary pressures," he tells TRT Afrika.

Money mules, who physically transport illicit money across borders, often employ both official and unofficial means to evade airport security.

At Lagos airport, EFCC personnel zeroed in on the suspect arrested last month when he declared only half of the $578,000 cash he was carrying from Johannesburg in South Africa. A search of his belongings revealed an equal amount in US dollars concealed in multiple packets.

Enhanced surveillance

In March, Nigerian border security and financial intelligence reported a breakthrough in the crackdown on money laundering when a traveller was intercepted with $1.154 million and 135,900 Saudi riyals in undeclared cash at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, the busiest in northern Nigeria. The undeclared cash was hidden inside packs of imported date palm.

The case has since been handed over to the EFCC for further investigation and legal proceedings.According to Nigerian financial law, the offender's conviction would likely lead to the forfeiture of the entire quantum of undeclared cash to the federal government.

Experts like Miqati believe Nigeria's financial system could face more daunting challenges from money laundering and other economic crimes as criminal networks get smarter and find newer ways to dodge surveillance.

By Mazhun Idris, TRT Global

Nigerian crime gangs are targeting young British boys in 'sextortion' scams

Teenage boys in the UK are being blackmailed by Nigerian crime gangs that pose as young women online - with the National Crime Agency offering advice on what victims should do.

NCA officials said boys as young as 14 have been targeted with "sextortion" scams on social networks including Snapchat and Instagram.

Criminals trick them into sending sexual images - and then threaten to share the pictures with their family, friends and school unless they pay about £100.

While most victims of child sexual exploitation are female, the NCA said 90% of online sextortion victims are boys aged 14 to 17.

In some cases, those affected have taken their own lives out of fear the images will be shared.

Marie Smith, a senior manager at the NCA's child exploitation and online protection command, called the abuse "extremely disturbing".

As part of an NCA awareness campaign, she urged victims: "Do not pay - stay calm. We can help. If you pay once, they will just demand more."

Sextortion 'unimaginably cruel'

Most of the offences are committed by people from West African countries, including Nigeria and the Ivory Coast.

"Nothing is off the cards and we hope to hold these criminals accountable," Ms Smith said.

NCA director of threat leadership Alex Murray said: "Sextortion is unimaginably cruel and can have devastating consequences for victims.

"This campaign will help empower young boys, giving them the knowledge to spot the dangers posed by this crime type and how to report it.

"It supports them to understand that if it does happen, it is never their fault. It will also take the advantage away from the criminals responsible, whose only motivation is financial gain.

"Sadly, teenagers in the UK and around the world have taken their own lives because of 'sextortion', which has been a major factor behind launching this campaign."

Last year alone, the NCA's CEOP safety centre received 380 sextortion reports. In the first five months of 2024, UK police forces recorded an average of 117 monthly reports involving under-18s.

And in the US, the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children received more than 28,000 sextortion reports globally in 2024 - up from 26,718 the previous year.

Sky News

Related story: Nigeria man indicted in sextortion scheme after South Carolina teen dies

Cybercrime schools in Nigeria: The proliferation of internet fraud

In recent years, Nigeria has gained notoriety as a global hub for internet fraud, a subset of cybercrime popularly known by the slang “yahoo yahoo”, with fraudulent activities ranging from sextortion, email or romance scams to sophisticated hacking operations. In 2024, the West African nation ranked fifth in the first-ever World Cybercrime Index on global cybercrime hotspots, coming behind Russia, which ranked number one, and Ukraine, China, and the United States, which occupied the second, third, and fourth positions respectively. A disturbing development in this trend is the emergence of “cybercrime schools” — informal training hubs where individuals, often children and young adults, are taught how to defraud others online.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) estimated that the country loses approximately USD 500 million annually to online fraud. The proliferation of internet fraud has become a major concern, as it not only impacts victims financially and psychologically but also tarnishes the country's reputation internationally.

 
What are cybercrime schools?

Cybercrime schools are underground operations where instructors teach aspiring fraudsters the skills needed to commit online crimes. They are commonly referred to as “HK”, which means “Hustle Kingdom” or “419 training schools”. In Nigeria, 419 refers to Section 419 of the Nigerian Criminal Code, which criminalizes fraud and related offences. Over time, the term “419” has become synonymous with scams and fraudulent activities. Students enrolled in such fraud academies, often referred to as “Yahoo boys”, are coached on how to manipulate victims.

In a massive raid on December 10, 2024, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 792 suspects allegedly involved in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams. Among those apprehended were 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, two Kazakhstanis, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian. The raid occurred in a seven-story building located in the highbrow area of Victoria Island, Lagos, where these foreign nationals reportedly trained their Nigerian accomplices on how to initiate romance and investment scams. They also used the identities of their Nigerian accomplices to perpetrate online fraud.

Barely a month later, another syndicate of Chinese fraudsters (who usually recruit local tech-savvy Nigerians) specializing in hotel review job scams, targeting mostly European victims, were arrested in Nigeria's capital city, Abuja.

The EFCC chairman, Ola Olukoyede, disclosed that there are minors in primary schools (elementary school) who are enrolled in cybercrime schools across the country with the consent of their parents.

“We have what we call the 419 training schools where they harvest our children from primary school. When they leave their regular studies, they close at 2 o’clock; they end up in some of these 419 training schools. They start indoctrinating them. They first of all ask them, even their parents, to sign an undertaking.”

The mindset and appeal of internet fraud

A social media search of the sentence “Yahoo is not a crime” on X reveals several posts like this and this by Nigerian users who strongly believe that internet fraud is not even a crime. One user on X noted:

Yahoo Yahoo (internet fraud), is really an eye opener on some issues concerning our society, regardless of how bad it is, I can say there's a lot faux, lies that it uncovered, one of them will be about relationship.
— sultan of Kaduna 🐊 (@sultanofvybezz) February 9, 2023

While some Nigerians consider internet fraud merely a “hustle”, others claim it is a means of retrieving what colonial masters took from Africa or some form of revenge against slavery. A viral video shows a lady who praised her 12-year-old brother for successfully scamming his first victim. A viral comedy skit satires a Yahoo boy's conversation with a potential romance scam victim (referred to as a client). Several other factors that contribute to the rise of internet fraud include the pervasive get-rich-quick mentality as well as the appeal and glamorization of fraudulent success. Pop culture and social media have amplified a narrative that all Yahoo boys live in luxury, as both are rife with images of the scammers flaunting luxury cars, expensive clothes, and extravagant lifestyles.

Unemployment and poverty are also contributing factors. With limited job opportunities, online fraud appears to offer a faster route to wealth compared to legitimate employment. The absence of adequate digital literacy and cybersecurity awareness in schools leaves young people vulnerable to being lured into these criminal activities.

The fight against cybercrime

Although the Nigerian government has taken steps to combat cybercrime through the Cybercrime Act of 2015 — which criminalizes offences like identity theft, online fraud, and hacking, it has been criticized for having insufficient penalties.

Many social media users criticize the government's response to these crimes, arguing that the relatively short jail term and small fines for convicted internet fraudsters aren't enough of a deterrent.

EFCC is being mischievous with these headlines.

Dude stole $345,000 and was given 2 years jail term with option of a meager fine of N2m [USD 1,324]. Which I’m sure he’s paid by now.

Shameful. And this is why fraud won’t end here. https://t.co/IicnUjTpoQ

— Pete (@Prymefactor) January 9, 2025


While Nigeria collaborates with international law enforcement agencies to tackle internet fraud and apprehend suspects based in Nigeria, agencies such as the EFCC and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) are tasked with enforcement, conducting raids, arrests, and awareness campaigns.

The director of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC), CP Uche Ifeanyi Henry, said 751 arrests were made and significant assets were recovered in 2024. However, he emphasized the need for advanced forensic tools and stronger collaboration with technology firms to address increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

Nigerian cybersecurity specialist Chidiebere Divinewill Ihediwa suggested “redirecting the knowledge of the Yahoo boys”. He advised the EFCC to devise a method of re-orientating the educated e-fraudsters arrested by the agency towards becoming information technology specialists rather than allow them to rot away.

By Pamela Ephraim, GlobalVoices

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THAI WOMAN’S ROLE IN NIGERIA FRAUD RING ENDS IN HAI YAI AIRPORT ARREST

Thai Police have apprehended a Thai woman at Hat Yai International Airport for her involvement in a massive romance scam operation run by her Nigerian husband, with fraudulent transactions totaling over 6.2 billion baht ($175.3 million USD). The arrest comes five years after the initial warrant was issued.

Crime Suppression Division officers arrested Ms. Orathai, 52, at the international arrival terminal of Hat Yai International Airport in Khlong Hoi Khong district, Songkhla province. She was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on May 7, 2020, on charges of criminal association, participation in transnational organized crime, conspiracy to commit fraud by impersonation, and money laundering.

The investigation revealed that in 2017, Orathai worked at a massage parlor in Malaysia, where she met her Nigerian husband through a colleague’s introduction. After their marriage, she lived with him while he covered all her expenses, allowing her to stop working.

Two years into their relationship, her husband claimed he wanted to establish a business in Thailand and requested her help in opening bank accounts for financial transactions, explaining that as a foreigner, he couldn’t do so himself. He offered 6,500 baht per account opened. The suspect proceeded to open multiple accounts and handed over complete control of deposits and withdrawals to her Nigerian husband.

Police investigators discovered that these bank accounts were linked to a major fraud case involving Ms. Chamanant and associates, who had illegally transferred money from a company through multiple transactions, causing damages totaling 6,223,872,674.31 baht.

Authorities arrested Orathai when they learned she was traveling from Malaysia to visit her children in Thailand. During questioning, the suspect made a full confession to all charges. The case has been transferred to investigators for further legal proceedings.

Khaosod

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Huntsville man admits to laundering money for Nigerian sextortionists

Freight fraud from India to Nigeria

The Cyber Security Bureau in Telangana, a state of India, has launched an investigation into a major fraud scheme involving 18 former Amazon employees who allegedly manipulated the company’s delivery system to claim about $11.8 million in fraudulent transportation reimbursements.

The scheme revolved around falsified delivery trips registered within Amazon’s logistics system. Authorities say the accused, in collaboration with U.S.-based suppliers, created fake delivery records, claiming to have transported goods to customers who were either unavailable or had incorrect addresses. This allowed them to pocket transportation fees without ever completing the deliveries.

Amazon’s internal audit uncovered the scam, prompting a formal complaint. The fraudulent activities reportedly took place at the company’s Relay Operation Center in Hyderabad, the capital of Telangana, which monitors global shipments. Investigators are now scrutinizing the operations of the former employees and their network to understand the full extent of the fraud.

A case has been registered against 22 individuals. As authorities dig deeper, more revelations are expected about how the individuals bypassed Amazon’s security measures.

This case underscores the growing sophistication of fraud in the logistics industry and the need for stringent internal controls, advanced fraud detection systems and continuous monitoring to prevent financial losses.

Nigeria’s cargo tracking woes 🚚

In an effort to curb rampant fraud and illicit activities within its maritime sector, Nigeria is set to implement the International Cargo Tracking Note (ICTN) in Q2 2025. The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) will oversee the rollout, despite significant opposition from key industry stakeholders.

The ICTN is designed to enhance transparency, security and efficiency in cargo tracking. However, many in the shipping and logistics industry argue that it will lead to increased costs and bureaucratic hurdles, and despite its potential benefits, the initiative has faced multiple setbacks due to internal conflicts, corruption and resistance from industry players.

Nigeria’s maritime sector suffers an estimated $500 million loss annually due to cargo fraud, under-declaration and inefficiencies. Over the past five years, this has amounted to a staggering $2.5 billion in lost revenue.

The implementation of ICTN has sparked strong resistance from shipping lines, importers and logistics operators. The chairman of the Shipping Lines Association of Nigeria, Boma Alabi, has voiced concern that the initiative will function as an additional tax, increasing costs for businesses and consumers. Similarly, Segun Musa, national vice president of air logistics at the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, labeled ICTN an “intellectual fraud,” arguing that it will lead to double inspections, one at the point of origin and another upon arrival, negating the purpose of Nigeria’s existing inspection policy.

Despite these criticisms, NSC Executive Secretary Pius Akutah has defended the ICTN, emphasizing its potential to boost government revenue and reduce smuggling, including illicit shipments of arms and drugs. The minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola, acknowledged flaws in the past administration’s approval process but stressed the need to implement ICTN as part of the government’s economic diversification strategy.

As Nigeria moves toward ICTN implementation, the freight and logistics industry will closely monitor its impact, particularly in mitigating fraud, improving cargo security and enhancing port efficiency. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether ICTN can be the game-changer the Nigerian maritime sector desperately needs.Check out a past commentary on FreightWaves about the modernization of Africa’s logistics capabilities here.
Kal Freight’s bankruptcy update 💸

Kal Freight’s bankruptcy case continues to unfold, revealing deeper scrutiny into its financial dealings and prospects. The California-based trucking company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December amid allegations of fraudulent activity, now faces increased pressure from creditors demanding an independent investigation.

This week, creditors urged a Texas bankruptcy judge to appoint an independent examiner to further investigate allegations of pre-petition fraud and mismanagement. The move signals growing concerns over the company’s financial conduct before its bankruptcy filing, particularly in light of the accusations that Kal Freight fraudulently obtained nearly $17 million from Daimler and engaged in unauthorized asset transfers totaling tens of millions of dollars.

Kal Freight is now working on a Chapter 11 reorganization plan, expected to be filed in February. The plan may take one of two paths: a sale of the business or a restructuring aimed at keeping the company operational.

More developments are anticipated in the coming weeks as Kal Freight’s bankruptcy proceedings continue to evolve.

By Grace Sharkey, Freight Waves

Nigeria man indicted in sextortion scheme after South Carolina teen dies

Nigeria man indicted in sextortion scheme after South Carolina teen dies.

19 News

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Stop Sextortion - bereaved parents' appeal to criminals in Nigeria

Huntsville man admits to laundering money for Nigerian sextortionists

Authorities say a Huntsville man is set for sentencing after he admitted he laundered money for Nigerian sextortionists.

Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Michigan Andrew Birge announced on Wednesday that Dinismore Guyton Robinson, 29, of Huntsville, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering after he laundered money for Nigerian Sex extortionists.

His sentencing before U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker is scheduled for April 24.

The indictment states a group of money launderers, including Robinson, used online payment systems to collect sextortion proceeds and send them to Nigerian sextortionists.

Other money launderers in the group were:

. Johnathan Demetrius Green, 32, Stone Mountain, Georgia
. Jarell Daivon Williams, 31, McDonough, Georgia
. Kendall Ormond London, Jr., 32, Lithonia, Georgia
. Brian Keith Coldmon, Jr., 30, Stone Mountain, Georgia.

According to the indictment, the sextortionists had boys and young men create nude images. After they received those images, they had the victims send funds to the U.S.-based money launderers through online payment systems like Apple Pay, Cash App and Zelle.

The money launderers would keep about 20% of the money, convert the rest to bitcoin and send the bitcoin back to Nigeria.

The indictment specifically said one of the money launderers, Green, laundered the funds of Jordan DeMay, a 17-year-old high school student from Marquette, Michigan after he was extorted by the three Nigerian men.

Officials said that the sextortion scheme caused DeMay’s death. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in March 2022.

In November 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Michigan charged the three Nigerian nationals in the sextortion scheme that targeted DeMay and more than 100 other victims.

By Tony Cortes, News19

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Scammers from Nigeria accused in AI Brad Pitt impersonation Scam

A group of Nigerian scammers have been accused of pulling off a scam involving AI to impersonate Hollywood star Brad Pitt and dupe a woman.

The victim, a French citizen named Anne, was duped into thinking she was in a romantic relationship with the actor.

The elaborate ruse cost her life savings and she is now seeking legal redress against the scammers.

The fraudsters used AI to generate convincing images of Pitt, further solidifying their deception.

Anne was initially approached on Instagram by someone claiming to be Pitt's mother, after she posted photos from a skiing trip in Tignes.

The scammers then manipulated her into believing that Pitt urgently needed funds for kidney treatment and his bank accounts were inaccessible due to ongoing divorce proceedings with Angelina Jolie.

Anne's attorney, Laurene Hanna, disclosed that her client had lost a whopping €830,000 (around ₹7.5 crore) to the fraudsters.

In a bid to hunt down these criminals, Anne has sought the assistance of Marwan Ouarab from FindmyScammer.com.

According to Le Parisien's report quoting Ouarab, the culprits are three young men living in Nigeria.

Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has said that it can only launch an investigation into this case if it receives a formal petition. "It is a petition that authorizes the EFCC to act," spokesperson Dele Oyewale told AFP.

Nigeria has a notorious reputation for being home to internet fraudsters, colloquially known as "Yahoo Boys."

However, despite the notoriety, the EFCC remains committed to fighting all forms of emerging crime, including those enabled by AI.

In a recent operation in Lagos's affluent Victoria Island area, the agency apprehended 792 suspects involved in online scams.

By Dwaipayan Roy, NewsBytes

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Nigeria to spend seized money on rural electrification

On Friday, the government announced that millions in recovered funds linked to former Petroleum Resources Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke will be used to fund rural electrification projects across Nigeria. The announcement followed the signing of an Asset Return Agreement between Nigeria and the United States which enables the US to return nearly $52.9 million (€51.6 million) seized from the forfeiture of assets belonging to the former minister and her associates.

The agreement is significant in that it is the first repatriation of assets to Nigeria linked to Alison-Madueke. She was Nigeria's oil minister from 2010 to 2015 and became the first female president of the oil alliance OPEC.

Nigerian Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi said the recovered funds were an example of the countries' unwavering commitment to fighting corruption. He added that "it also signifies the commitment of the United States of America to facilitating restitution and supporting integrity and accountability in governance."

Lucrative contracts

In 2017, a civil complaint filed by the US Department of Justice requested the recovery of over $100 million (€97 million) in assets suspected of being obtained through bribes to the former minister for petroleum resources. The lawsuit alleged that between 2011 and 2015, two Nigerian businessmen conspired with others to bribe the former oil minister, who oversaw the country's state-owned oil company NNPC Ltd. In return, the minister is said to have used her position in office to steer lucrative oil contracts to companies owned by the two businessmen.


According to court documents, proceeds from those illicitly obtained contracts were laundered through the United States and used to buy various assets via shell companies, including luxury properties in California and New York, as well as a 65-meter (214.5-foot) superyacht.

Alison-Madueke, who was minister for petroleum resources during the presidency of Goodluck Jonathan, has denied allegations of corruption. However, Nigeria's anti–graft agency has obtained court orders to seize houses, cars and jewelry in Nigeria, which it claims were proceeds of corruption connected to the former minister and her associates, according to the Associated Press.


The corruption challenge

Despite a projected economic growth rate of 3.7% in 2024, according to the African Development Bank, most countries continue to grapple with extreme poverty. As of 2024, an estimated 464 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa alone live in extreme poverty, according to the World Bank. The economic situation is the result of decades of severe underfunding in critical public sectors, exacerbated by corruption and illicit financial flows which siphon public funds and resources away from citizens.

Nigeria is rife with corruption. A 2023 report by the country's statistics agency, NBS, ranked corruption as the fourth-most significant problem affecting the country. Following shortly after, were other challenges including high living costs and rampant unemployment. In 2023 alone, about N721 billion (€451 million) was paid in cash bribes to public officials in the country.

Analysts are quick to point out that corruption could cost Nigeria up to 37 percent of its gross domestic product by 2030 if it is not adequately tackled.

Nigerian Justice Minister Lateef Fagbemi mentioned that diplomatic efforts such as the agreement between the United States and Nigeria highlight the "importance of international cooperation in addressing the global scourge of corruption, which is also linked to trans-border crimes." He also pointed out that it "underscores the obligations and commitments enshrined in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act , which guide our collective efforts to ensure that stolen assets are returned and used for the benefit of our citizens."


Funds bring light to rural communities

Nigeria has the world's largest deficit when it comes to access to electricity, according to the World Bank, with 45% of Nigerians cut off from power. An even grimmer disparity exists between urban and rural areas. Only 26 percent of rural Nigeria is connected to the electricity grid.

Since President Bola Tinubu assumed office in May 2023, he has taken on various initiatives aimed at bridging the electricity gap and introducing economic activities in rural communities. Earlier last December, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier made a state visit to Nigeria to bolster energy ties between the two countries.

Justice Minister Fagbemi said the recovered funds would be used to support rural electrification through the World Bank, with $50 million earmarked for improving access to renewable energy in Nigeria's rural communities.

Fagbemi said the remaining nearly $2.9 million would be disbursed as a grant by Nigeria to the International Institute for Justice to support counterterrorism measures across Africa.

The justice minister said measures had been put in place to ensure that the returned funds are not only disbursed but also "utilized transparently and accountably by the World Bank and IIJ, with periodic reports to be forwarded to Nigeria and the US on the implementation of the projects."

By Sarah Hucal, DW

Related story: US returns $50m in alleged stolen funds to Nigeria

Nigerian duo found guilty of defrauding Albuquerque resident of $560K

Two Nigerian nationals were found guilty of defrauding $560,000 from an Albuquerque resident, the Department of Justice announced on Monday.

According to court documents and evidence presented at the four-day trial, Olutayo Sunday Ogunlaja, 39, and Abel Adeyi Daramola, 37, used a fake profile on the dating website eHarmony.com to start a romantic relationship with the victim. The duo then requested money from the victim, claiming the money would be used to complete a construction project in Malaysia and allow them to return safely to the United States.

The DOJ said the victim sent approximately $560,000 to various accounts in the United States, Canada, and Malaysia between January 2016 and April 2017.

Ogunlaja and Daramola will remain on conditions of release pending sentencing, which has not been scheduled. At sentencing, they each face up to 20 years in prison.

By Fallon Fischer, KRQE

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