The FBI has arrested two Nigerian men, Nosakhare Nobore and Solomon Aluko, who were accused of creating a “Fraud Bible” to scam people out of money. They were part of a group that tried to steal money through a fake COVID-19 benefits program.
What Happened?
- The fraudsters, along with four other people (Jorge Gonzalez, Leonard Ujkic, Nicholas Pappas, and Shan Anand), planned to steal up to $80 million over four years (from 2021 to 2025).
- They only managed to take about $50 million from U.S. citizens and the government.
- They used a “Fraud Bible,” which was like a secret guide with instructions on how to trick people and steal money.
How Did They Do It?
- The group tricked people by stealing their personal information. With this stolen data, they opened fake bank accounts.
- One member of the group even worked as a bank teller at a major bank. This helped them deposit fake or stolen checks from the U.S. Treasury.
- These checks were meant to be used for COVID-19 relief money, such as the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and Qualified Sick Leave Wages (QSLW).
Extra Details:
- The fraudsters also set up a Telegram channel called “2021 Fraud Bible.” In this channel, they shared their plans and even showed others how to commit fraud.
- Once they deposited the stolen checks into their fake accounts, they quickly withdrew the money or moved it into other bank accounts.
What Could Happen Next?
- Nobore and Aluko, along with their co-conspirators, now face very serious charges. If found guilty, each of them could go to prison for many years:
- Up to 30 years for crimes like wire fraud and bank fraud.
- 20 years for money laundering.
- 10 years for defrauding the U.S. government.
- And a mandatory 2-year sentence for using someone else’s identity in a crime.
This case shows that the government is very serious about protecting people’s money and will catch anyone who tries to cheat the system, especially during hard times like the COVID-19 crisis.
This report is written in a way that is easy to understand, even if you are 11 years old.
