NIGERIAN MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN $4M U.S. FRAUD CASE

NIGERIAN MAN PLEADS GUILTY IN $4M U.S. FRAUD CASE

A Nigerian man, James Junior Aliyu, has admitted in a U.S. court that he was part of an online fraud scheme that stole millions of dollars from businesses.

Aliyu, 30, was extradited from South Africa after investigators linked him to a Business Email Compromise (BEC)scam carried out in 2017. The group hacked business emails and tricked companies into sending money to fake accounts.

Prosecutors said the fraud targeted over $4.1 million, with actual losses of about $1.57 million. Aliyu controlled more than $1.19 million, which he has agreed to return. He will also pay $2.3 million in restitution to victims.

He now faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for November 24, 2025, in Maryland. Officials praised the collaboration between U.S., South African, and Canadian authorities that led to Aliyu’s arrest and extradition, describing it as another step forward in tackling the growing threat of cyber-enabled fraud.