Once a relationship is established via a false identity, romance scammers wheedle money from their online lovers. A notorious Instagram influencer from Nigeria has been jailed for more than 11 years in the US for his role in an international fraud syndicate. "I really don't have any comment right now, I have to learn the facts about this case," he told the BBC. "I want to spend money to send this boy to jail, let him go for a very long time.". One UK victim, who wanted to remain anonymous, says he lost 500,000, has been forced to leave the UAE and is himself facing criminal proceedings in Dubai because of the debt he has incurred as a result of the fraud. We cannot say with 100% certainty that Hushpuppi is behind it, Mr Almazar says. 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That is the real story here.". Hushpuppi latest news: US justice department dismiss Hushpuppi $400 fraud in prison tori 17 March 2022 Instagram/@hushpuppi Ramon Olorunwa Abbas aka Director of Media Relations, United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California Mrozek Thom tell BBC Pidgin say di tori no dey true. [1] He was sentenced in the United States to 11 years for conspiracy to launder money obtained from business email compromise frauds and other scams, including schemes that defrauded a US law firm of about $40 million, illegally transferred $14.7 million from a foreign financial institution, and targeted to steal $124 million from an English Premier League club. He has spent his life in the UAE. "[3] Prosecutors cited his "significant" financial assets, "deep ties to foreign countries" and a lack of ties to the United States. According to court documents in California, he has cost victims 17m in total. Ramon Olorunwa Abbas aka Hushpuppi reported $400,000 fraud inside US prison no be true. The rise and fall of Hushpuppi the social media influencer and global money-launderer. Please click 'Create Account and Subscribe' to create a new account and subscribe to our email alerts. [36] By implication, if what was once morally condemnable becomes a source of valuation, it becomes a source of valuation in its consequences in society. He represents around 25 people - including eight UK citizens - in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), all of whom believe they are victims of one of Hushpuppi's BEC scams. "They came up with the idea of stealing identities. The United States Central District Court in California has sentenced Nigerian internet sensation, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi to 11 years in prison. He is accused of converting some of the proceeds into a Bitcoin digital wallet, effectively ensuring that they could not be traced. 2023 Grace Experience: Ga West Presbytery holds forum to empower women - Anigyee Kasee - Adom TV, First video of Hushpuppi in prison after sentencing pops up, Hushpuppi sentenced to 11 years in prison, Instagram explains suspension of Hushpuppis account, Hes best cleaner in prison; have mercy Hushpuppis lawyer to court, Hushpuppi allegedly caught in fresh $400k fraud while in prison, Lilwin mourns after being hit with sad news, Akufo-Addo appeals for concessionary loans from World Bank, IMF, Netizens criticise designer for poor fit of brides kente corset dress, Kwabena Agyapong wades into Frimpong Boatengs galamsey report, I was an absentee mother Otiko Djaba on why she rejected ambassador job, Sudan crisis: The football coach forced to flee Khartoum, Photos of level 300 UCC student found dead in her hostel, How a pastor embarrassed me after church due to body odour Joseph Mensah, Bride steals spotlight with her backless gown with long pleated train, Kwabena Duffuor II reacts to campaign posters with Mahama. 2023 BBC. [15], He is the subject of a 2017 song "Telli Person" by Nigerian singer Timaya featuring Olamide and Phyno, with whom he had a long-running feud. Email scams typically try to steal an individual's personal information, or to defraud them by impersonating a legitimate business contact and tricking the target into sending money into a wrong account. The BBC has used newly available court documents to uncover the man behind cyber heists that have cost his victims millions, from his humble beginnings as a "Yahoo Boy" hustler in Nigeria to a so-called "Billionaire Gucci Master" living a life of luxury in Dubai before his arrest last year. And now Mr Kyari too is wanted in the US on charges of fraud, money laundering and identity theft. Hushpuppi: the Instagram influencer and international fraudster - BBC Africa BBC News Africa 1.12M subscribers Subscribe 9.2K 984K views 1 year ago NIGERIA And then with that identity theft, they went into dating [scams]," explains Dr Adedeji Oyenuga, a cybercrime expert at Lagos State University. One member threatened to blow the whole scam wide open as he was unhappy about the money he was getting. Get the day's top headlines delivered to your inbox. (2022). Is climate change killing Australian wine? Only a single letter or number will be different. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? Notorious and disgraced Internet fraudster, Olalekan Jacob Ponle, also Stay informed. Hushpuppi, Nigerian social media influencer, funded his luxurious lifestyle by cybercrime. ", Seye says everyone knows Hushpuppi has committed a crime, but it is understandable: "No-one prays to be poor. 2023 BBC. Mr Pissetzky says the case could last several months, even longer than a year. [31], In a final appeal to Judge Otis Wright ahead of his scheduled sentencing on 19 September 2022, Hushpuppi wrote a personal letter to the court narrating his source of wealth, criminal adventure and regrets. Too bad they caught on, or it would have been a nice pay out.". Ramon Abbas, 40, also was ordered by a federal judge to pay $1.7 million in restitution to two fraud victims, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. Just days after we put the same question to Snapchat, which deleted Hushpuppi's account. "I have seen parents who have taken their children to learn how to become Yahoo Boys. Abigail Mamo, chief executive of the Maltese chamber of small and medium enterprises, says the heist plunged the holiday island into "chaos". LOS ANGELES A Nigerian social media influencer who called himself Ray Hushpuppi and flaunted a lavish lifestyle fueled by his efforts to launder millions of stolen dollars was sentenced Monday in Los Angeles to more than 11 years in federal prison. Read about our approach to external linking. This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. "Yahoo Boys" are romance scammers who took their name from the first free email available in Nigeria. He fears that he might get apprehended at immigration immediately.". Professionals were victimised. De external site no concern BBC. US Department of Justice dismiss di report on Thursday wen dem react to di viral tori. The reply shows the next heist was being planned: "Next one is in few weeks; will let you know when it's ready. In that email the scammers - posing as a supplier awaiting payment - typically say they've switched banks, so the payment will need to be wired to a different account; the details for which they will provide. Why Nigerian cyber fraudsters are 'role models', I went to Nigeria to meet the man who scammed me, AI chatbots 'may soon be more intelligent than us', Russia troop deaths hit 20,000 in five months - US, Palestinian hunger striker dies in Israel prison, The 17 most eye-catching looks at the Met Gala, The burden of being cricket legend Tendulkar's son, 'My wife and six children joined Kenya starvation cult', On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. A fact known all too well by Dubai-based lawyer Barney Almazar. He represents around 25 people - including eight UK citizens - in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), all of whom believe they are victims of one of Hushpuppi's BEC scams. "We cannot say with 100% certainty that Hushpuppi is behind it," Mr Almazar says. "The scam was very sophisticated. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. Between December 2019 and February 2020, Abbas and a gang of alleged middlemen in Kenya, Nigeria and the US groomed and conned the victim out of more than a million dollars. Ghaleb Alaumary, 37, of Mississauga in Ontario, Canada, was charged separately. The U. S. Central District Court in California has again postponed the sentencing of a Nigerian Instagram celebrity, We received calls from our members telling us they were sending money using Bank of Vallettas platform to their foreign suppliers, says Ms Mamo. WebThe big boy Hushpuppi was humbled when he was handcuffed just like a petty criminal, his designers and latest cars could do nothing. When he was allowed 15 minutes in a virtual breakout room to confer with Mr Ponle, he returned to request a new date for the hearing. Hushpuppi alleges bribing DCP Abba Kyari to arrest co-fraudster in $1.1m scam By Motunrayo on Thursday, July 29, 2021 Hushpuppi, the embattled Nigerian socialite, alleged that he bribed Abba Kyari, a deputy commissioner of police (DCP), to arrest a co-fraudster, according to US court documents. Local driver Seye told the BBC that he remembered Abbas as a young boy working alongside his mother in the Olojojo market. The rise and fall of Hushpuppi the social media influencer and global money-launderer. He represents around 25 people - including eight UK citizens - in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), all of whom believe they are victims of one of Hushpuppi's BEC scams. Terrifyingly simple, BEC works by intercepting payments via fake emails that appear to come from an address that is almost exactly the same as the supplier's. 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In that email the scammers posing as a supplier awaiting payment typically say theyve switched banks, so the payment will need to be wired to a different account; the details for which they will provide. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. The social media platform told the BBC that it had carried out an investigation into his account - but had decided not to close it. Damn, Abbas said in a text to a fellow scammer at the time in messages obtained by the FBI. In February 2019, $14.7 million was transferred out of the bank through false international transactions to accounts in the United States, the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, and Hong Kong. His clients understand that he was victimised, Mr Almazar explains. He fears that he might get apprehended at immigration immediately.". The song contained lyrics directed toward Abbas indirectly accusing him of being a swindler and lavishing his money on designer clothes instead of investing in profitable ventures and warning him that he would soon be caught by authorities. "They keep finding out.". Tori bin dey circulate for local media say di Instagram celebrity bin receive fresh charges. Assignment reveals the inside story of Ramon Abbas, one of a new breed of global cyber-fraudsters. In May 2019, Abbas was tasked with setting up a bank account in Mexico. This article contains content provided by Instagram. The rise and fall of Hushpuppi the social media influencer and global money-launderer. Neither are named in the court documents. Read about our approach to external linking. The Latest. 2023 BBC. Subscribe to our email alert of the day's top stories from the UK and around the world. Terrifyingly simple, BEC works by intercepting payments via fake emails that appear to come from an address that is almost exactly the same as the suppliers. Abigail Mamo, chief executive of the Maltese chamber of small and medium enterprises, says the heist plunged the holiday island into chaos. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, he attempted to launder 13m euros (11m; $15m) stolen by a gang of North Korean hackers from the Maltese Bank of Valletta, pleading guilty in April to money laundering, The Nigerian super sleuth wanted in the US, Flashy Nigerian Instagrammers 'caught with $40m in cash', Why Nigerian cyber fraudsters are 'role models', Serena Williams announces pregnancy at Met Gala, Corpse found under Tibet hotel bed leads to probe, New record as 4.56m Indians take flights in a day, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Japan to ban upskirting in stronger sex crime laws, BP profits of 4bn in three months spark criticism. Hushpuppi is currently standing trial in the US for cyber fraud, money laundering and other related crimes, following his arrest in 2020 along with associates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). File on 4 & BBC Africa Ramon Abbas - known to his 2.5 million Instagram followers as Hushpuppi - is considered by the FBI to be one of the world's most high [14] Please ensure your password has at least 8 characters, an uppercase and a lowercase letter, and a number or symbol. Fashion; by newsdesk. He represents around 25 people including eight UK citizens in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), all of whom believe they are victims of one of Hushpuppis BEC scams. "There was no extradition, there were no legal steps taken, there were no court documents filed, it was simply a call to the FBI. Notorious and disgraced Internet fraudster, Olalekan Jacob Ponle, also known as Woodberry, has pleaded guilty to internet fraud. Shopping trolleys filled with goods were abandoned at checkouts as payment systems shut down. Jon Shilland, fraud lead with the UK's National Crime Agency, says it can be difficult tracking down criminal networks based in multiple jurisdictions. The 37-year-old began his career in Oworonshoki, a poor coastal area in the north-east of Lagos, Nigerias commercial capital. [7] Though the affidavit did not name any bank, according to Forbes, the date of the attack and amount mentioned in the affidavit matched that of the attack on Malta's Bank of Valletta in February 2019. The scam was very sophisticated. They see another young person who was once like them become that great. Instagram Influencer, Nigerian Scammer Indicted for Stealing Over $1.1 Million Cardinal News News Ticker Male, Age 30, Accused of Stabbing, Killing His Mother in House They Shared in South Elgin CRIME BLOG C You can unsubscribe whenever you want. Antoine Verglas Opens Up About His Journey To Becoming A Fashion Photographer. He fears that he might get apprehended at immigration immediately.. A Nigerian man accused of multimillion-dollar fraud and money laundering by the United States was kidnapped by the FBI from Dubai, his lawyer says. Webfunny ways to say home run grassroots elite basketball Menu . Homepage. Multiple sources in Malta including Times of Malta and Malta Today also repeated Forbes's claims that Hushpuppi could have been behind the attack. The BBC has used newly available court documents to uncover the man behind cyber heists that have cost his victims millions, from his humble beginnings as a "Yahoo Boy" hustler in Nigeria to a so-called "Billionaire Gucci Master" living a life of luxury in Dubai before his arrest last year. For pretrial, Ramon Abass aka Hushpuppi don bin plead not guilty to di four counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. "We cannot say with 100% certainty that Hushpuppi is behind it," Mr Almazar says. Wia dis foto come from, Twitter/@USAO_LosAngeles. "The scam was very sophisticated. One member threatened to blow the whole scam wide open as he was unhappy about the money he was getting. Mr Almazar says shame prevents many more of Hushpuppis victims coming forward. He texted his contact - Nigerian police officer Abba Kyari - saying: "I want him to go through serious beating of his life. cookies to improve your experience and customise advertising. Click to get a sign-in link sent to your email. Some of it was laundered via the purchase of a watch worth a staggering $230,000. Use at least 8 characters, an uppercase and a lowercase letter, and a number or symbol. Like many Yahoo Boys, Abbas broadened his criminal horizons. The scams were to be carried out via Business Email Compromise (BEC). Labour Day, May Day: Wetin e mean and how e start. This is when his Instagram posts and crimes went to another level. Mr Almazar says shame prevents many more of Hushpuppi's victims coming forward. "Brother I can't send from UK to Mexico," Abbas's sidekick messaged him. The reply shows the next heist was being planned: Next one is in few weeks; will let you know when its ready.
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