US Convicts 25 in $215 Million International Email Fraud Scheme

• •25 defendants, including 10 Nigerians, convicted in a $215 million fraud scheme.
• •Fraudsters targeted individuals and businesses using compromised email accounts.
• •Authorities seized $1.2 million in cash and luxury items during the investigation.

A federal jury in the United States found two men and one woman guilty of an international email hacking scheme that defrauded over 1,000 victims of approximately $215 million. The defendants, including Oluwafemi Michael Awoyemi, were part of a larger group of 25 individuals who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering. The scheme targeted individuals and businesses across 47 US states and 19 countries, utilizing compromised email accounts to send fraudulent payment requests. Investigators reported that the fraudsters laundered the stolen funds through a network of fraudulent bank accounts, with $50 million converted into cashier's checks. The operation had a global reach, affecting victims in Canada, the UK, Germany, and Australia. Authorities seized nearly $1.2 million in cash, cryptocurrency, and luxury items during the investigation. Sentencing for the convicted individuals is pending.