Authorities finally arrested an alleged
Nigerian online scammer accused of orchestrating schemes totaling more
than $60 million, according to Interpol. The
40-year-old man, who authorities have said is known as “Mike,” is also
believed to have convinced one person to pay out $15.4 million. The man
was arrested in Port Harcourt, in southern Nigeria
Mike and another unnamed Nigerian now face charges including hacking, conspiracy, and obtaining money under false pretenses.
According to the international law enforcement
organization, Mike used “a network of at least 40 individuals across
Nigeria, Malaysia, and South Africa which both provided malware and
carried out the frauds. The alleged mastermind also had money laundering
contacts in China, Europe, and the US who provided bank account details
for the illicit cash flow.”
The agency did not describe how Mike and his alleged co-conspirator were tracked down.
He apparently used multiple methods. He
engaged in payment diversion fraud, where a payment officer is
fraudulently directed to pay a large amount of money to some account
seemingly at an executive’s behest. Mike also used romance scams, where
lonely men and women are chatted up with a faux suitor that
eventually ratchets up financial demands.
“The public, and especially businesses, need
to be alert to this type of cyber-enabled fraud,” Noboru Nakatani, the
executive director of the Interpol Global Complex for Innovation, said
in a statement. “Basic
security protocols such as two-factor authentication and verification
by other means before making a money transfer are essential to reduce
the risk of falling victim to these scams. It is exactly through this
type of public and private sector cooperation that Interpol will
continue to help member countries in bringing cybercriminals to justice
no matter where they are.”
Interpol did not immediately respond to Ars’ request for comment.
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