The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) in the United States is currently probing a money laundering conspiracy involving seven Nigerian individuals who are suspected of being middlemen in a scheme to launder $8 million obtained from romance scams perpetrated by internet fraudsters, commonly referred to as Yahoo Boys.
The individuals facing charges are Bolanle Christina Odeyale, aged 39; Oghenemine Jeffrey Agbroko, aged 34; Charles Owhonigho Emurotu, aged 40; Jimmy Iwezu, aged 44; Lori Tsoritse, aged 38; Rukevwe Solomon Ologban, aged 44; and Christopher Onyedikachi Okereke, aged 38.
According to US prosecutors, the accused collaborated with fraudsters in Nigeria between March 2018 and June 2019 to carry out romance scams targeting susceptible individuals in the US who were easily swayed by such fraudulent schemes.
Using false identities online, the scammers enticed vulnerable women into romantic entanglements and then began extorting money from them under false pretenses, such as claiming urgent financial needs related to fabricated medical emergencies and other deceits, as outlined in the indictment.
The US Attorney’s office stated, “The defendants facilitated connections for the Utah Money Transmitters to engage with Yahoo Boys or aided in transferring fraud proceeds from the District of Utah to various locations within the US or overseas.”
The accused individuals established new bank accounts in the US to receive funds from victims of fraud, took a percentage of the illicit gains, and sent the remaining balance to the Yahoo Boys in Nigeria.
“By operating within the District of Utah, they set up accounts at US financial institutions to collect funds from victims and transfer money to co-conspirators, in order to conceal the true destination of the funds and hide the location and identities of the Yahoo Boys,” the Attorney’s office clarified.