U.S. Accuses But Can’t Catch Two Nigerian Scammers Behind $270,000 Bitcoin Fraud
By CCN.com: The United States Attorney’s Office District of Oregon has indicted two Nigerian nationals, Kelvin Usifoh and Onwuemerie Ogor Gift, over a bitcoin fraud scheme which is estimated to have netted them bitcoin worth over $270,000. Among the charges that the two are facing include wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The victims who have come forward are based in Oregon and California. The two accused men have yet to be located as the Feds contemplate triggering an Interpol red notice for help, according to The Oregonian.
Nigerian nationals facing charges in bitcoin scheme that defrauded victims in Oregon, California. https://t.co/kpe4D3SF8n pic.twitter.com/KHSJb8ft70
— FOX 12 Oregon KPTV (@fox12oregon) April 24, 2019
The two Nigerian nationals marketed their fraud on three websites namely wealthcurrency.com, boomcurrency.com and merrycurrency.com. According to the United States Attorney’s Office District of Oregon, the two promised investors extremely high zero-risk returns. Once victims transferred bitcoin to their cryptocurrency wallets, the two would then exchange it into Nairas.
As early as last year in July boomcurrency.com had already been flagged as a scam on Twitter.
https://t.co/2G46Vjn10K AKA https://t.co/5LtH3JbmLO (SCAM ALERT!!!): https://t.co/HAlIIiiyX6 via @YouTube
— BinaryOptionsArmy (@binaryoptionsar) July 31, 2018
During the entire duration of their fraudulent scheme, the two are believed to have earned over 50 bitcoins. Since the exact dates when they exchanged the bitcoin to fiat are not indicated, they may received more or less than the approximately $270,000 they would earn today at current rates.
