The now infamous “Nigerian Prince” was never a “prince” and was never royalty of any kind. Instead, he was a suspended advisor to the local governor in one of Nigeria’s states. He didn’t stop at sending you messages with promises of untold riches in return for your bank account information. More recently, he’s been scamming the U.S. federal government’s jobless benefits.
For the “Nigerian Prince”, COVID-19 has been a windfall. But he’s not alone.
As much as $400 billion dollars in unemployment benefits may have fallen, or could fall, into foreign hands, according to some estimates. And it’s been “easy money”.
The “Nigerian Prince” is now known as Abidemi Rufai, and he’s been in US custody since his arrest in May at the JFK International Airport in New York as he prepared to fly first class back to Nigeria.
He is accused of using the identities of more than 100 Washington residents to steal more than $350,000 in unemployment benefits from the Washington State Employment Security Department (ESD) during the COVID-19 pandemic last year.
The Department of Justice document shows that the Nigerian allegedly carried out the fraud by using the stolen identities of American workers.
“In so doing, Rufai caused and attempted to cause the Employment Security Department to pay out federal and other unemployment benefits in excess of $350,000, and fraudulently caused other states to pay out additional benefit payments,” Department of Justice document said.
Rufai is also charged with trying to defraud the Internal Revenue Service of nearly $1.6 million.
WE had states including Maryland trying to do the same right here !!!! Maryland Lost in court !!!!!!
Gee, looks like the emails asking for help were legit; he really did have a need for assistance. My bad!
Giant Middle Finger!
How much did Maryland STEAL ???