The move against fraudsters and internet criminals continued, as the United State Government has sanctioned 6 Nigerian nationals for engaging in cyber-crimes against American Businesses and individuals.
This was disclosed in a press statement by the US Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, on Tuesday June 16, 2020.
The US Government noted that technological advancements, which have provided greater interconnectivity, have also offered greater opportunity for exploitation by some fraudsters who target Americans. Consequently, the Department of Justice and the office of Foreign Assets Control have taken action against 6 Nigerians for stealing over $6 million from victims across the United States.
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According to the statement from US Secretary of State, “Today, in coordination with the U.S. Department of Justice, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control took action against six Nigerian nationals, pursuant to Executive Order 13694 as amended, for conducting an elaborate online scheme to steal more than $6 million from victims across the United States.
“The six individuals designated today manipulated their victims to gain access to their sensitive information and financial resources.”
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The U.S. says that it will not tolerate this level of misuse of technology and will use all of the tools at its disposal to defend the American people and businesses from malign actors that seek to target them, including cyber-enabled actors who prey on vulnerable Americans and businesses.
The names of these 6 Nigerians who were disclosed by the office of Foreign Assets Control and are alleged to have committed those cyber-crimes include: Nnamdi Orson, Kayode Biola Ayorinde, Ogunshakin Alex Afolabi, Okpoh Felix Osilama, Olorunyomi Michael and Uzuh Richard Izuchukwu.
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US Secretary of State issued this statement today: US Govt TODAY “took action” against 6 Nigerians “for conducting an elaborate online scheme to steal more than $6 million from victims across the United States.” https://t.co/ZEpFS7RA0l pic.twitter.com/unKRM3zSwZ
— Tolu Ogunlesi, MON (@toluogunlesi) June 16, 2020
It can be recalled that in August 2019, the United States Government had charged about 80 people, mostly Nigerians, for criminal activities ranging from money laundering operations and internet fraud in transactions that were worth over $46 million.