Security News > 2021 > April > Nigerian email scammer sent down for 40 months in the US, ordered to pay back $2.7m to victims

A Nigerian email scammer based in New York was on Tuesday sentenced to 40 months in prison, and ordered to pay back $2.7m in stolen money.

As opposed to the infamous Nigerian email scams where people pretended to be heirs to fortunes and devised various ways to get victims to send them money to access their funds, the scam run by Eke and three other Nigerian conspirators was significantly more sophisticated, the indictment states [PDF].

"As Mr Eke became better acquainted with Ashu and Ironuah, he learned that the two were involved in a money-making scheme and was presented with an opportunity to join. Mr Eke, who had come to the United States with little, was still living in Ashu's basement and decided to join the conspiracy."

"In addition to receiving and dissipating victim funds directly, Eke managed and supervised other members of the conspiracy, including by arranging for co-conspirators' accounts to receive fraud proceeds, receiving and communicating wire transfer information contained in victim emails, and coordinating the acquisition and deposit of checks representing fraud proceeds," it said [PDF].

"In total, Eke is responsible for actual losses to 35 victims totaling approximately $2.7 million."

Eke's lawyers asked for 30 months behind bars and three years of supervised release; the government asked for 63 to 78 months in the clink; he got 40.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/04/14/email_scammer_sentenced/