FBI targets Nigerians, others accused of defrauding Americans; $17b recovered, 100 charged

FBI Director Kash Patel has said the bureau is taking its anti-fraud fight to Nigeria and other parts of the world, citing massive fund recovery and the indictment of arrested fraudsters. Speaking during a Senate oversight hearing on Tuesday, Patel said fraudsters stealing from Americans “at home and operating scam centers around the world” are being targeted directly.

Patel disclosed that about 100 people have been indicted and charged, with six top wanted fraudsters captured in three months, tied to over $2 billion in fraud. He added that $17 billion in fraud, crypto and cash had been seized, alongside four joint overseas operations in 18 months. Some Nigerian “Yahoo Boys” have recently been extradited to face U.S. wire fraud trials, according to Peoples Gazette.