As we end this city girl and city boy summer, there was apparently time for one last scam and this one was major. Federal prosecutors said 80 people, most of them Nigerians, have been charged in the U.S. with being part of a widespread conspiracy that scammed businesses and elderly individuals out of millions.
Law enforcement officers arrested 14 of the accused in the U.S. today, according to CNN. The U.S. attorney in Los Angeles said the suspects used email to conduct romance and fake business scams, then laundered the money.
At least three others were already in custody due to this major bust. Six defendants living in the states are fugitives and the remaining defendants live in other countries, but mainly Nigeria.
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“Today’s announcement highlights the extensive efforts that organized criminal groups will engage in to perpetrate (business compromise email) schemes that target American citizens and their hard-earned assets,” said Assistant Director in Charge Paul Delacourt of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. “Billions of dollars are lost annually, and we urge citizens to be aware of these sophisticated financial schemes to protect themselves or their businesses from becoming unsuspecting victims.
All defendants involved will face charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, conspiracy to launder money, and aggravated identity theft. Some also will face fraud and money laundering charges.
According to the indictments, the schemes were used to steal at least $6 million and overall attempted to take an additional $40 million from victims in the U.S. and all over the world.
“Those fraud schemes have evolved and become much more sophisticated. Nigerian fraud networks now target individuals and businesses alike,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna.
Romance scams have become a huge part of online corruption and this bust was just a drop in the bucket. According to the Federal Trade Commission, victims lost $143 million in romance schemes last year. That’s more than any other type of fraud reported to the feds.
We’ll keep you up-to-date on the latest, Roommates.
