$6m internet scam: Suspect on FBI list surrenders to EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it is questioning an alleged fraudster, Felix Osilama Okpoh, who it said was on the watch list of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) over his alleged involvement in a $6 million internet fraud. The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed on Tuesday that Okpoh, alongside Richard Izuchukwu […]

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it is questioning an alleged fraudster, Felix Osilama Okpoh, who it said was on the watch list of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) over his alleged involvement in a $6 million internet fraud.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, disclosed on Tuesday that Okpoh, alongside Richard Izuchukwu Uzuh, Alex Afolabi Ogunshakin, Abiola Ayorinde Kayode and Nnamdi Orson Benson, had been declared wanted by the FBI sometime in 2019 for their alleged involvement in a business email compromise (BEC) scheme that defrauded over 70 businesses in the United States of America of over $6m.

The suspect allegedly provided over 40 bank accounts to his conspirators, which were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers of over $1m from their victims.

He was said to have been indicted on August 21, 2019, in the United States District Court, District of Nebraska, on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

However, Okpoh turned himself in on Friday, September 18, 2020, at the Lagos Zonal Office of the Commission, in the company of his parents, retired Army Colonel, Garuba Okpoh and Chief Justina Okpoh.

Okpoh, during interrogation, said he  surrendered himself to the Commission out of respect he had for his parents and his resolve to be morally upright.