Interpol arrests Nigerian chief executive of international online fraud network

Interpol has arrested a 40-year-old Nigerian, known only by the name ‘Mike’. He is suspected of being the leader of an international online fraud network. For example, the man would be responsible for 60 million dollars in damage.

According to Interpol, in a single case he would have extorted 15.4 million dollars from a victim, about 13.8 million euros. The investigation service estimates that the network consists of a total of forty people from Nigeria, Malaysia and South Africa. These have spread malware and committed email fraud. In addition, there were connections to money laundering operations in China, the EU and the US. In addition to the current suspect, a 38-year-old person has also been arrested by the Nigerian authorities.

The network’s activities fell into two categories. For example, the members managed to penetrate company e-mail accounts, after which they sent messages to customers containing false payment details. The network also engaged in so-called ‘ceo fraud’, in which the e-mail account of a high-ranking person within an organization is used to send payment requests to employees. Seized devices would also show that the man also carried out so-called ‘romance scams’.

The indictment contains charges of hacking, conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretenses. Interpol reports that the arrest was possible on the basis of information given to it by security companies Fortinet and Trend Micro.