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US Govt Cracks Down On $5.3 Million Fraud, Traces Money To Hong Kong, Nigeria

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US Govt Cracks Down On $5.3 Million Fraud, Traces Money To Hong Kong, Nigeria

The US government has initiated a civil forfeiture action to reclaim $5.3 million tied to a business email compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded a Massachusetts workers union. A spoofed email in January 2023 tricked the union into transferring $6.4 million to a fraudulent account, subsequently routed through international banks and cryptocurrency exchanges.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

US authorities have seized funds from seven domestic accounts linked to the scheme.

Acting US Attorney Joshua S. Levy stated, “BEC fraud schemes present a serious threat to businesses and individuals nationwide, causing significant financial and emotional harm to victims by exploiting trusted communication channels they rely upon every day. Today’s civil forfeiture action demonstrates that when victims report such misconduct to the authorities, there may be steps we can take to recover stolen funds. We hope today’s action helps restore some level of stability and justice for those impacted by fraud.”

The statement from Boston advised the public to report suspected cybercrimes, including cryptocurrency, romance, investment scams, and business email compromise (BEC) fraud, to USAMA.CyberTip@usdoj.gov.

The press release noted that the fraudulently acquired money was moved through several intermediary bank accounts, with portions transferred or attempted to be transferred to a cryptocurrency exchange or bank accounts in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, and Nigeria.

“The United States filed a civil forfeiture action today to recover approximately $5,315,746 alleged to be proceeds of a business email compromise (BEC) scheme targeting a Massachusetts workers union, as well as property involved in money laundering.

“In January 2023, a workers union located in Dorchester received an email requesting a change of payment information from someone it believed worked at an investment consulting firm. The email came from what initially appeared to be the consulting firm’s true email address but was a spoofed email address with a single letter altered. The spoofed email instructed the workers’ union to make a $6,400,000 transfer to a different bank account than had been previously arranged, which the workers union did.

“The fraudulently obtained funds were then allegedly transferred through a series of intermediary bank accounts – with some funds sent or attempted to be sent, to a cryptocurrency exchange and various bank accounts located in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, and Nigeria.

“Investigators were able to trace proceeds of the scheme to seven domestically held bank accounts, the contents of which were subsequently seized by U.S. authorities.”

It is understood that a BEC scheme is a sophisticated fraud targeting entities using wire transfers, affecting businesses, governments, and individuals worldwide, with daily losses estimated at $8 million. Criminals hack legitimate business email accounts through social engineering and malware.

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Crime

No Hiding Place: Criminal Empires Under Siege As NDLEA And NCC Declare Total War On Trafficking And Piracy!.

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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) have officially formed a strategic alliance to combat the interconnected threats of drug trafficking and intellectual property piracy.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Strategic Partnership Details

  • Formal Agreement: The two agencies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday, July 17, 2026, at the NDLEA headquarters.

  • Operational Integration: The partnership includes provisions for intelligence sharing, coordinated joint operations, officer capacity building, and the exchange of technical resources.

  • Joint Working Committee: A committee will be established to ensure the agreement translates into tangible operational results.

Rationale for Collaboration

  • Shared Criminal Networks: NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), noted that criminal syndicates often engage in both narcotics trafficking and the piracy of creative works, using proceeds from one illicit activity to finance the other.

  • Economic and Social Impact: NCC Director-General, Dr. John Asein, emphasized that organized piracy is a major criminal enterprise that undermines Nigeria’s creative economy, destroys jobs, and weakens national security.

  • Intersecting Supply Chains: Both agencies identified that the same clandestine networks, transportation routes, and financial channels used for drug trafficking are frequently utilized to distribute pirated goods and launder criminal proceeds.

  • Inter-Agency Synergy: The leadership of both organizations highlighted the importance of moving away from isolated operations toward a collaborative model that leverages the specific expertise and intelligence capabilities of each agency.

The initiative aims to more effectively disrupt illegal supply chains, dismantle criminal structures, and protect both the creative sector and the general public from the influence of organized crime.

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Crime

CAMPUS HORROR: UNIJOS Student Beheaded In Broad Daylight, Assailants Flee with Severed Head!.

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Tension has gripped the University of Jos (UNIJOS) following the discovery of a headless body on the institution’s permanent site this past Tuesday. The victim, whose head was taken by the assailants, was not a student or staff member of the university, but was a local resident known for farming on a plot of land within the campus premises.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

  • The Discovery: The victim, who was familiar to the community and frequently visited the site early in the morning to farm, was found decapitated in his usual farming spot.

  • Targeted Attack: The University’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), Agama Tangni, indicated that the attack appeared deliberate and suggested the assailants may have been monitoring the victim’s routine.

  • Security Response: Following the incident, the victim’s body was moved to the Bingham University Teaching Hospital mortuary, and university management was notified.

  • Current Status: While the Plateau State Police Command has yet to release an official statement, security personnel have been deployed to strategic areas of the campus to bolster safety and conduct an ongoing investigation to identify the killers and recover the victim’s head.

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Crime

Plantain Peel Plot Exposed! Nigerian-British Grandma Busted With 13kg Of Cocaine At Lagos Airport!.

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  • Airport Arrest: A 67-year-old Nigerian-British caregiver, Mary Yetunde Barek, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on June 28, 2026, while attempting to board a flight to London. Authorities discovered 13 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside her luggage, which had been creatively packaged to resemble plantains. The suspect has admitted to owning the illicit materials.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

    • From Caregiver to Criminal: 67-Year-Old Grandmother Caught in Daring 13kg Cocaine Smuggling Attempt!

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    • Hidden in Plain Sight! NDLEA Uncovers 13kg of Cocaine Stashed in Fake Plantain Peels in Grandma’s Luggage!

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    • Grandma’s “Fruit” Gamble Fails! NDLEA Foils Massive 13kg Cocaine Trafficking Bid at MMIA!

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    • London-Bound Nightmare! Nigerian-British Grandma Arrested Over 13kg Cocaine Discovery at Lagos Airport!

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