Updated on: August 20, 2024
A Nigerian national faces a 12-year and 7-month-long sentence for perpetrating multiple online scams.
Bamidele Omotosho pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and computer intrusion after his trial in 2022. He was initially caught in the UK and extradited to the US. Two years passed before his final sentence was determined.
He participated in six fraudulent schemes, including identity fraud schemes, romance scams, using stolen information to apply for credit cards, and hacking into retirement homes. Overall, his victims lost more than $2 million.
He and several unnamed associates purchased stolen data from the dark web marketplace, xDedic. The data included personally identifiable information (PII) such as names and social security numbers.
They also purchased login credentials and were found to be using them to log into the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) web portal. After obtaining access to the portal, they created fake accounts and leeched retirement funds from other users.
Many of their schemes involved committing fraud using other people’s identities.
“In 2017 and 2018, Omotosho and his co-conspirators purchased unauthorized access to computer networks for multiple accounting firms around the United States, including in the Western District of Texas (“WDTX”) and the Middle District of Florida (“MDFL”),” the US States Attorney’s Office explains.
“With that access, Omotosho and his co-conspirators obtained PII for accounting firm clients, which they used to file fraudulent tax returns with the IRS.”
They deposited their stolen funds by using the stolen data they obtained to create fake accounts under banks and other financial institutions.
Omotosho and his associates covered their tracks by purchasing used cars and shipping them to Nigeria for resale. This is a typical tactic used in money laundering schemes, where criminals will launder money through legitimate businesses to avoid flagging authorities.