The American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has showered ecomuims on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for providing assistance to it in the investigation and prosecution of six Nigerians linked with the Business Email Compromise ( BEC) and wire fraud in the United States of America.
United States’ attorney, Joe Kelly, and Special FBI agent, Kristi Johnson, in a release made available to the EFCC, applauded the Commission for its “ past and continued assistance in pursuing those that engage in Business Email Compromise and other fraud schemes.”
Six Nigerians: Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Michael Olorunyomi, Felix Osilama Okpoh, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode and Nnamdi Orson Benson were indicted and sanctioned by the FBI for conducting elaborate fraud schemes involving alleged stealing of over $6million from “individual victims and victim businesses both in Nebraska and other states.”
BECs are subtle cyber crimes involving digital switch funds or automated clearing home transfers. The six Nigerians indicted by the FBI are accused of “violations of federal legal guidelines: 1) Conspiracy to commit wire fraud and wire fraud , punishable by as much as 20 years of imprisonment and a nice of as much as $250,000; 2) Identification theft and entry gadget fraud, every punishable by as much as 10 years imprisonment and a nice of as much as $250,000”.
The FBI described the EFCC as one of its “international colleagues overseas” and expressed appreciation for its “ dedication to working collectively”.
The EFCC and FBI had been concerned in a joint subject operation in opposition to cyber criminals in Nigeria in 2019 which yielded vital dividends.
The operation , codenamed “Operation Rewired”, was successful in opposition to trans-Atlantic syndicates of cyber criminals working in intricate, subtle networks.
100 and sixty seven Nigerian suspected cybercriminals had been arrested and a complete sum of $169,850 and N92,000,000 had been recovered from the suspects.
The FBI additionally introduced certificates to operatives of the EFCC that took half within the joint operation.