Nigerian man, 40, is extradited to Nebraska after topping the FBI Cyber's Most Wanted List for $6M fraud where he tricked businessmen into wire transfers and also defrauded love interests

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A Nigerian man has been extradited to Nebraska for a $6million fraud where he tricked business employees into wire transfers and preyed on others by masquerading as a love interest. 

Alex Ogunshakin, 40, who was at the top of the FBI Cyber's Most Wanted List after a fraud indictment in 2019 filed in Omaha, Nebraska, was arrested in Nigeria and ultimately surrendered to the U.S.

Acting U.S. Attorney Susan Lehr announced Tuesday the successful extradition of Ogunshakin, who made his first court appearance on September 29 and has been detained pending trial. 

Ogunshakin allegedly defrauded more than $6million from more than 70 businesses in Nebraska and across the U.S. through a business email compromise (BEC) scheme between 2016 and 2017. 

He and his co-conspirators were accused of posing as the chief executive officer, president, owner, or other executives of the targeted companies. 

Using spoofed email accounts, they directed business employees to complete wire transfers. Two unnamed companies in Nebraska lost more than $530,000 in the scam.  

Alex Ogunshakin (pictured in 2017), 40, has been extradited from Nigerian to Nebraska

Ogunshakin (pictured in 2015) participated in a $6million fraud, targeting more than 70 businesses

Ogunshakin was at the top of the FBI Cyber's Most Wanted List after a fraud indictment in 2019

Ogunshakin provided his co-conspirators, including Richard Uzuh who led the BEC scheme, with bank accounts that were used to receive fraudulent wire transfers. 

He also assisted in sending spoofed emails to businesses used to solicit fraudulent wire transfers, according to the indictment. 

Learning from Uzuh and others, Ogunshakin allegedly conducted his own BEC and romance schemes later. 

The FBI's report on BEC shows more than $2.4billion was lost in nearly 20,000 BEC-related complaints it received in 2021. BEC and email account compromise (EAC) losses surpassed $43 billion globally. 

'His indictment, arrest, and extradition should send a message to his co-conspirators and other cyber criminals,' said Eugene Kowel, the FBI Omaha special agent in charge in the press release. 

Some of his co-conspirators have been arrested and behind bars. 

Adewale Aniyeloye, who sent the spoofed e-mails to the target business, was sentenced in 2019 to 96 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $1,570,938.05 in restitution. 

Pelumi Fawehinimi, a bank account facilitator, was sentenced in 2019 for 72 months and ordered to pay $1,014,159.60 in restitution. 

Onome Ijomone, a romance scammer, was sentenced in January 2020 to 60 months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay $508,934.40 in restitution after his successful extradition from Poland. 

Richard Uzuh (pictured), who led the BEC scheme, used spoofed email accounts and directed business employees to complete wire transfers

Uzuh (pictured) and his co-conspirators were accused of posing as the chief executive officer, president, owner, or other executives of the targeted companies

Ogunshakin, Uzuh, and other four Nigerian nationals were sanctioned by the department of treasury in 2020 

Department of Treasury release sanctions against Ogunshakin, Uzuh, and four other Nigerian nationals in 2020, blocking their property and interests possessed by U.S. persons and prohibiting people from dealing with them. 

In the documents, prosecutors allege Uzuh often would target more than 100 businesses in a day and got at least $6.3 million from American businesses that way. 

Uzuh, Felix Okpoh, Abiola Kayode, and Nnamdi Benson remain unlocated or unfound.

'The FBI will remain vigilant in their pursuit of criminals both domestic and abroad. Disrupting these cyber criminal groups and their victimization of U.S. persons and businesses is a priority for the FBI,' Agent Kowel said in the statement. 

'The FBI wishes to thank its partners in Nigeria, particularly the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and National Central Bureau, Abuja – INTERPOL (Nigeria Police Force), for their past and continued assistance in pursuing those that engage in Business Email Compromise and other fraud schemes. '