The fraudsters used various methods, including business e-mail compromise (BEC) and romance scams, to deceive their victims into sending money. They then laundered the funds through a network of illicit money exchangers.
According to a source, the FBI, along with its international partners, has initiated Operation Eagle Sweep to investigate and disrupt a criminal network that attempted to steal over $46 million from unsuspecting individuals and businesses. While some suspects have been extradited to the US, others are still large in Nigeria. The Nigerian government is willing to cooperate with the US authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice. This case is one of the largest in US history and highlights online fraudsters’ global reach and sophistication.
The fraud scheme involved various online scams, but the most common ones were Business Email Compromise (BEC) and Romance Scams. In BEC scams, the fraudsters pretended to be legitimate businesses or executives. They sent fake emails to their victims, urging them to wire money for different purposes, such as closing a deal, paying a supplier, or securing a contract.
In Romance Scams, fraudsters create fake profiles on dating websites or social media platforms and pretend to be interested in a romantic relationship with their victims. They then asked their victims to send them money for various reasons, such as travel expenses, medical bills, or emergencies. The fraudsters often used stolen identities, photos, and documents to make their stories more believable.
Fraudsters did not transfer the stolen money directly to Nigeria. Instead, they used a complex network of individuals and businesses to launder the funds. The individuals, known as money mules, received the money from the victims and then forwarded it to the money exchangers either for a fee or under duress. On the other hand, money exchangers were individuals or businesses exchanging money for local currency or cryptocurrency and then transferring it to Nigeria’s fraudsters. To avoid detection by the authorities, money exchangers often used informal channels such as hawala or the black market.
The FBI and its partners from multiple countries, including Nigeria, Canada, Turkey, Ghana, France, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, and the UK, carried out a coordinated operation to identify and apprehend the suspects in a fraud scheme. The Eagle Sweep process involved conducting several raids, seizures, and interviews worldwide. The FBI collaborated with US agencies such as the Department of Justice, Homeland Security, Treasury, and Postal Inspection Service to prosecute the suspects and recover the stolen funds.
As a result, 14 suspects were arrested in the US, with 11 of them in Los Angeles, and 66 suspects in Nigeria were indicted. The US authorities are currently seeking the extradition of the remaining suspects from Nigeria and other countries. ¹²³⁴
The Nigerian government has condemned fraudsters’ actions and pledged to collaborate with US authorities to bring them to justice. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari expressed his disappointment in the activities of the fraudsters and their impact on the image of Nigeria and its citizens.
He has promised to combat corruption and cybercrime in the country. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, has been working with the FBI and other international partners to locate and apprehend the suspects.
The EFCC has also launched a massive crackdown on online fraudsters in Nigeria, resulting in the arrest of hundreds of suspects and the confiscation of their assets.
According to the US Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California, the case is one of the largest and most complex cases of online fraud in US history. The case demonstrates online fraudsters’ global nature and sophistication, who use various techniques and technologies to deceive and exploit their victims. The case also highlights the importance of international cooperation and coordination in combating cybercrime, which transcends borders and jurisdictions. The US authorities have urged the public to be vigilant and cautious when dealing with online requests for money and to report any suspicious activity to the FBI or other law enforcement agencies.
