[31], In a final appeal to Judge Otis Wright ahead of his scheduled sentencing on 19 September 2022, Hushpuppi wrote a personal letter to the court narrating his source of wealth, criminal adventure and regrets. The accounts clerk is fooled into thinking it is a legitimate request from the supplier and, with a single click of a mouse, vast sums of money are lost. Neither are named in the court documents. The scams were to be carried out via Business Email Compromise (BEC). Hushpuppi alleges bribing DCP Abba Kyari to arrest co-fraudster in $1.1m scam By Motunrayo on Thursday, July 29, 2021 Hushpuppi, the embattled Nigerian socialite, alleged that he bribed Abba Kyari, a deputy commissioner of police (DCP), to arrest a co-fraudster, according to US court documents. The Latest. The reply shows the next heist was being planned: "Next one is in few weeks; will let you know when it's ready. Terrifyingly simple, BEC works by intercepting payments via fake emails that appear to come from an address that is almost exactly the same as the suppliers. "Their foreign suppliers did not receive the money We're talking about thousands of euros.". Where Is Hushpuppi? It is the latest high-profile fraud case involving a Nigerian national in the United States but his lawyer says the US had no authority to transport him from Dubai. I hope someday I will be inspiring more young people to join me on this path, read one Instagram post by Abbas, who pleaded guilty in April 2021 to one count of conspiracy to engage in money laundering. 3.The truly fascinating story of Doris Payne, aka "Diamond Doris," a 91-year-old jewel thief who used 22 aliases while stealing millions of dollars worth of jewelry from around the world and was arrested more than 20 times in countries like Greece, France, England, and Switzerland over the course of six decades. Ramon Abbas, 40, also was ordered by a federal judge to pay $1.7 million in restitution to two fraud victims, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. "But they also have to cover their losses, so right now he doesn't know how he can get back to the UAE. The BBC has used newly available court documents to uncover the man behind cyber heists that have cost his victims millions, from his humble beginnings as a "Yahoo Boy" hustler in Nigeria to a so-called "Billionaire Gucci Master" living a life of luxury in Dubai before his arrest last year. So when you see someone who is rich, you will pray to God to give you his kind of wealth.". But soon, the cracks between the gang started to show. April 26, 2023 Hushpuppi: Notorious Nigerian fraudster jailed for 11 years in US BBCView Full coverage on Google News Sources 1/ by newsdesk. Assignment reveals the inside story of Ramon Abbas, one of a new breed of global cyber-fraudsters. Abbas was one of the most prolific money launderers in the world, Don Alway, assistant director in charge of the FBIs Los Angeles office, said in the statement. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Huspuppi go get court sentencing for dis charges on 11 July, 2022. The rise and fall of Hushpuppi the social media influencer and global money-launderer. "Damn," Abbas said in a text to a fellow scammer at the time in messages obtained by the FBI. WebThe big boy Hushpuppi was humbled when he was handcuffed just like a petty criminal, his designers and latest cars could do nothing. Too bad they caught on, or it would have been a nice pay out.". According to the FBI, in 2020 BEC fraud resulted in losses of $1.8bn. Investigators noted the "substantial wealth" on display on hushpuppi's account, where he poses with supercars, shopping bags and in luxury locations. The 37-year-old began his career in Oworonshoki, a poor coastal area in the north-east of Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital. Many went to Malaysia - and Abbas followed them, ending up in Kuala Lumpur around 2014, then Dubai in 2017. File on 4's Hush Money: The Rise and Fall of an International Fraudster is available on BBC Sounds. An existing account was found for this email address. It was to receive 100m from a Premier League Football Club, and 200m from a UK firm. "This case targets a key player in a large, transnational conspiracy who was living an opulent lifestyle in another country while allegedly providing safe havens for stolen money around the world," United States Attorney Nick Hanna said in a statement when the charges were announced. To view this content choose accept and continue. Di charges compromise, frauds and oda scams wey include plans wey target one U.S law firm, one foreign bank and one English Premier League Soccer club. [7] Though the affidavit did not name any bank, according to Forbes, the date of the attack and amount mentioned in the affidavit matched that of the attack on Malta's Bank of Valletta in February 2019. BEC fraud is a huge issue across the world. Abba Kyari, who has a reputation in Nigeria as a "super cop", has been suspended and is wanted in the US, I have seen parents who have taken their children to learn how to become Yahoo Boys", On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. Damn, Abbas said in a text to a fellow scammer at the time in messages obtained by the FBI. "[3] Prosecutors cited his "significant" financial assets, "deep ties to foreign countries" and a lack of ties to the United States. Olalekan Jacob Ponle, known as "Mr Woodbery", flaunted his wealth, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. Recall that the FBI is prosecuting Ramon Abbas, a.k.a. [36] By implication, if what was once morally condemnable becomes a source of valuation, it becomes a source of valuation in its consequences in society. Copyright 1997 - 2023 NewsNow Publishing Limited. Read about our approach to external linking. His lawyer Michael B Nash told the judge at a detention hearing on Thursday that he had not had a chance to speak to his client. In February 2019, he attempted to launder 13m euros (11m; $15m) stolen by a gang of North Korean hackers from the Maltese Bank of Valletta. please read our, Internet Fraud: U.S. court sets Mr Woodberrys sentencing for July 11, Hushpuppis accomplice pleads guilty to internet fraud; agrees to pay $8 million to victims, Fraud: Hushpuppis partner forfeits choice Dubai properties, to pay $8m, Hushpuppis partner Woodberry to pay $8 million after pleading guilty to fraud. Ramon Abbas, 40, also was ordered by a federal judge to And now Mr Kyari too is wanted in the US on charges of fraud, money laundering and identity theft. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, he attempted to launder 13m euros (11m; $15m) stolen by a gang of North Korean hackers from the Maltese Bank of Valletta, pleading guilty in April to money laundering, The Nigerian super sleuth wanted in the US, Flashy Nigerian Instagrammers 'caught with $40m in cash', Why Nigerian cyber fraudsters are 'role models', Serena Williams announces pregnancy at Met Gala, Corpse found under Tibet hotel bed leads to probe, New record as 4.56m Indians take flights in a day, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Japan to ban upskirting in stronger sex crime laws, BP profits of 4bn in three months spark criticism. [13] Abbas prided himself on his humble beginnings. November 8, 2022. [33] On 8 November 2022, Hushpuppi was sentenced to over 11 years (135 months) in a federal prison. Please try different keywords. And then with that identity theft, they went into dating [scams]," explains Dr Adedeji Oyenuga, a cybercrime expert at Lagos State University. But soon, the cracks between the gang started to show. In the last 7 days. Only a single letter or number will be different. Instagram has said Nigerian fraudster Hushpuppi may continue using his account despite facing conviction for fraud in the United States. Dubai-based The National reported that Instagram declared Hushpuppi free to continue using his social media account. It said the Nigerian did not violate the social media platform's laws. The purported messages allege that Hushpuppi paid 8m naira ($19,000; 14,000) into accounts linked to the Nigerian police whose details were provided by Mr Kyari, to detain Mr Chibuzor. Is climate change killing Australian wine? Abigail Mamo, chief executive of the Maltese chamber of small and medium enterprises, says the heist plunged the holiday island into "chaos". Dr Oyenuga says Hushpuppi's influence endures as he is still regarded as a role model: "We're in a country where a lot of young people are suffering. He did not speak again. A Nigerian man accused of multimillion-dollar fraud and money laundering by the United States was kidnapped by the FBI from Dubai, his lawyer says. You can unsubscribe whenever you want. Terrifyingly simple, BEC works by intercepting payments via fake emails that appear to come from an address that is almost exactly the same as the supplier's. One UK victim, who wanted to remain anonymous, says he lost 500,000, has been forced to leave the UAE and is himself facing criminal proceedings in Dubai because of the debt he has incurred as a result of the fraud. The Judge had initially rejected the plea of the defendant's motion for a delay of judgement. Like many Yahoo Boys, Abbas broadened his criminal horizons. Multiple sources in Malta including Times of Malta and Malta Today also repeated Forbes's claims that Hushpuppi could have been behind the attack. Most cyber-criminals remain nameless, faceless, anonymous and all but untraceable. Jon Shilland, fraud lead with the UK's National Crime Agency, says it can be difficult tracking down criminal networks based in multiple jurisdictions. You may want to read Metas Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. "His clients understand that he was victimised," Mr Almazar explains. So when you see someone who is rich, you will pray to God to give you his kind of wealth.". Once a relationship is established via a false identity, romance scammers wheedle money from their online lovers. But the Dubai police said in a Facebook post that the FBI director had thanked them for extraditing the two men. Little did they know that his lavish lifestyle was funded through a complex web of cyber-heists. Lazarus, S., Button, M., & Adogame, A. Professionals were victimised. At the time, Dubai police said they recovered $40m (32m) in cash, 13 luxury cars worth $6.8m, 21 computers, 47 smartphones and the addresses of nearly two million alleged victims. Detectives seized more than 150 million dirham (about $40 million) in cash, 13 luxury cars worth Dh 25 million ($7M), 21 laptops, 47 smartphones, 15 memory storage devices, five external hard drives and 800,000 emails of potential victims alongside suitcases full of cash. Too bad they caught on, or it would have been a nice pay out.". 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"We received calls from our members telling us they were sending money using Bank of Valletta's platform to their foreign suppliers," says Ms Mamo. An article in Bloomberg Businessweek details his actions leading to his arrest, incarceration, and a trial on 27 July 2021, in Los Angeles. This is when his Instagram posts and crimes went to another level. By his own admission, during just an 18-month period defendant conspired to launder over $300 million, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum, although they said much of the intended loss did not ultimately materialize.. Local driver Seye told the BBC that he remembered Abbas as a young boy working alongside his mother in the Olojojo market. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. It stated that Hushpuppi risks 20 years imprisonment; a 3-year period of supervised release; a fine of $500,000 or twice the gross gain or gross loss resulting from the offence. De external site no concern BBC. Abbas's final big scam before his arrest in Dubai in June 2020 was straight-up identity theft, borrowed from the Yahoo Boy romance scams of his youth. It is alleged that Mr Kyari then falsely arrested and detained the middleman for a month in a squalid Nigerian cell. They're sometimes called 419 scams, after the relevant article in the Nigerian Criminal Code. He represents around 25 people - including eight UK citizens - in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), all of whom believe they are victims of one of Hushpuppi's BEC scams. A fact known all too well by Dubai-based lawyer Barney Almazar. He represents around 25 people - including eight UK citizens - in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), all of whom believe they are victims of one of Hushpuppi's BEC scams. "We cannot say with 100% certainty that Hushpuppi is behind it," Mr Almazar says. One Million Dollars Per Constituency: Middle Belt Dev't Authority commissions three projects. 40 mins; [16] Many viewed the song as a prophetic warning that was fulfilled with his arrest. [10][11][12] The arrest was part of an FBI investigation that indicted him as being a "key player" in a transnational cybercrime network that provided "safe havens for stolen money around the world. And now Mr Kyari too is wanted in the US on charges of fraud, money laundering and identity theft. Hushpuppi latest news: US justice department dismiss Hushpuppi $400 fraud in prison tori 17 March 2022 Instagram/@hushpuppi Ramon Olorunwa Abbas aka One UK victim, who wanted to remain anonymous, says he lost 500,000, has been forced to leave the UAE - and is himself facing criminal proceedings in Dubai because of the debt he has incurred as a result of the fraud. But everyone knew the source of his mysterious wealth cybercrime; he was a Yahoo, Seye says. Stay informed. As he grew older, Seye says, Abbas liked to splash his cash: He was generous. The 37-year-old began his career in Oworonshoki, a poor coastal area in the north-east of Lagos, Nigeria's commercial capital. The rise and fall of Hushpuppi the social media influencer and global money-launderer. But Hushpuppi's lawyer says his client earned his money by monetising his large social media presence. "We cannot say with 100% certainty that Hushpuppi is behind it," Mr Almazar says. You can unsubscribe whenever you want. He fears that he might get apprehended at immigration immediately.". Hushpuppi's former home, 9 Ogunyomi Street, in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos, Hushpuppi's Instagram posts about his luxurious lifestyle attracted hundreds of thousands of likes, Investigators say it is difficult to track down scammers when those in a network are based all over the world. In February 2019,he attempted to launder 13m euros (11m; $15m) stolen by a gang of North Korean hackers from the Maltese Bank of Valletta. It was to receive 100m from a Premier League Football Club, and 200m from a UK firm. His family are still in the UAE. You may want to read Metas Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. The 37-year-old began his career in Oworonshoki, a poor coastal area in the north-east of Lagos, Nigerias commercial capital. He assumed the identity of a New York banker to entrap his victim, a Qatari businessperson seeking a $15m loan to build a new school in the Gulf state. This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Read about our approach to external linking. Between December 2019 and February 2020, Abbas and a gang of alleged middlemen in Kenya, Nigeria and the US groomed and conned the victim out of more than a million dollars. Between December 2019 and February 2020, Abbas and a gang of alleged middlemen in Kenya, Nigeria and the US groomed and conned the victim out of more than a million dollars. One member threatened to blow the whole scam wide open as he was unhappy about the money he was getting. Social media influencer Hushpuppi sentenced to 11 years in prison over money laundering conspiracy. Ramon Abbas, 40, also was ordered by a federal judge to pay $1.7 million in restitution to two fraud victims, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. I went to Nigeria to meet the man who scammed me, AI chatbots 'may soon be more intelligent than us', Russia troop deaths hit 20,000 in five months - US, Palestinian hunger striker dies in Israel prison, The 17 most eye-catching looks at the Met Gala, The burden of being cricket legend Tendulkar's son, 'My wife and six children joined Kenya starvation cult', On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. "The scam was very sophisticated. He used to buy beer for everyone around.. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. Read about our approach to external linking. "In my opinion, the FBI and the government here acted illegally when they kidnapped him from Dubai without any legal process to do so," Mr Pissetzky told the BBC. But the Premiership scam fell apart when the UK banks refused to pay into the Mexican account. a court deputy asked on Thursday when he dialled into the hearing from federal prison. De way wey we de take go external link. But the Premiership scam fell apart when the UK banks refused to pay into the Mexican account. Exclusive: Woodberry, Hushpuppis ally, pleads guilty to fraud, Hushpuppis ally, Woodberry pleads guilty to fraud charge in US, Hushpuppis ally, Woodberry, pleads guilty to internet fraud, forfeits $8m, others, Hushpuppis close ally Woodberry pleads guilty, forfeits $8m, luxury Dubai assets, Posh Dubai assets Hushpuppis ally, Woodberry, is to forfeit to US govt, Hushpuppis colleague Woodberry pleads guilty to internet fraud, to forfeit Dubai assets, return $8m to victims. "Yahoo Boys" are romance scammers who took their name from the first free email available in Nigeria. Webfunny ways to say home run grassroots elite basketball Menu . VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. Get the day's top headlines delivered to your inbox. A complaint against him filed in court accuses Mr Abbas of leading a transnational network of cybercriminals whose targets included a US law firm, a foreign bank and an English Premier League football club. Yahoo Boys are romance scammers who took their name from the first free email available in Nigeria. But everyone knew the source of his mysterious wealth - cybercrime; he was a "Yahoo", Seye says. We contacted Instagram to ask why his account was still open. his efforts to launder millions of stolen dollars. To see how, and to learn how to control cookies, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
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