hushpuppi latest news bbc

Professionals were victimised. [13] Abbas prided himself on his humble beginnings. His lawyer Michael B Nash told the judge at a detention hearing on Thursday that he had not had a chance to speak to his client. [38][39] A short documentary about the life of Hushpuppi till his arrest has been released by both Bloomberg[40] and BBC Africa.[41]. Local driver Seye told the BBC that he remembered Abbas as a young boy working alongside his mother in the Olojojo market. Assignment reveals the inside story of Ramon Abbas, one of a new breed of global cyber-fraudsters. Mr Almazar says shame prevents many more of Hushpuppi's victims coming forward. But everyone knew the source of his mysterious wealth - cybercrime; he was a "Yahoo", Seye says. July 5, 2022. It was to receive 100m from a Premier League Football Club, and 200m from a UK firm. Ramon Abbas, 40, also was ordered by a federal judge to pay $1.7 million in restitution to two fraud victims, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. De way wey we de take go external link. Fashion; by newsdesk. Instagram has said Nigerian fraudster Hushpuppi may continue using his account despite facing conviction for fraud in the United States. Dubai-based The National reported that Instagram declared Hushpuppi free to continue using his social media account. It said the Nigerian did not violate the social media platform's laws. Use at least 8 characters, an uppercase and a lowercase letter, and a number or symbol. TittlePress He assumed the identity of a New York banker to entrap his victim, a Qatari businessperson seeking a $15m loan to build a new school in the Gulf state. Copyright 1997 - 2023 NewsNow Publishing Limited. Hushpuppi also deny money laundering conspiracies, international money laundering and oda crime dem. Director of Media Relations, United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California Mrozek Thom tell BBC Pidgin say di tori no dey true. "I have seen parents who have taken their children to learn how to become Yahoo Boys. Stay informed. We don't have an account for this email address. In February 2019, $14.7 million was transferred out of the bank through false international transactions to accounts in the United States, the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, and Hong Kong. In February 2019, he attempted to launder 13m euros (11m; $15m) stolen by a gang of North Korean hackers from the Maltese Bank of Valletta. The rise and fall of Hushpuppi the social media influencer and global money-launderer. During di detention hearing, court for di Northern District of Illinois, USA rule say make di U.S. The scams were to be carried out via Business Email Compromise (BEC). Notorious and disgraced Internet fraudster, Olalekan Jacob Ponle, also known as Woodberry, has pleaded guilty to internet fraud. [36] By implication, if what was once morally condemnable becomes a source of valuation, it becomes a source of valuation in its consequences in society. A fact known all too well by Dubai-based lawyer Barney Almazar. He represents around 25 people - including eight UK citizens - in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), all of whom believe they are victims of one of Hushpuppi's BEC scams. "We cannot say with 100% certainty that Hushpuppi is behind it," Mr Almazar says. BBC News, Pidgin. "OMG. "The scam was very sophisticated. I went to Nigeria to meet the man who scammed me, AI chatbots 'may soon be more intelligent than us', Russia troop deaths hit 20,000 in five months - US, Palestinian hunger striker dies in Israel prison, The 17 most eye-catching looks at the Met Gala, The burden of being cricket legend Tendulkar's son, 'My wife and six children joined Kenya starvation cult', On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. [36] The study concludes that the process by which some actions are interpreted as a crime compared to others is a moral enterprise. Na on top accuse say im dey plan to tiff plenty millions of dollars through business email compromise (BEC), yahoo-yahoo and oda mago-mago. This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Neither are named in the court documents. They came up with the idea of stealing identities. Hushpuppi also deny money laundering conspiracies, international money laundering and oda crime dem. Neither are named in the court documents. This is when his Instagram posts and crimes went to another level. "In my opinion, the FBI and the government here acted illegally when they kidnapped him from Dubai without any legal process to do so," Mr Pissetzky told the BBC. Recall that Hushpuppis sentence had been moved three times since getting convicted in 2021. Please click 'Create Account and Subscribe' to create a new account and subscribe to our email alerts. 2023 BBC. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, statement about Mr Abbas' initial court appearance, Africa Live: The latest from the continent, Flashy Nigerian Instagrammers 'caught with $40m in cash', Dubai police said they recovered $40m (32m) in cash, 13 luxury cars worth $6.8m, 21 computers, 47 smartphones and the addresses of nearly two million alleged victims, Serena Williams announces pregnancy at Met Gala, Corpse found under Tibet hotel bed leads to probe, New record as 4.56m Indians take flights in a day, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Japan to ban upskirting in stronger sex crime laws, BP profits of 4bn in three months spark criticism. Abbas was one of the most prolific money launderers in the world, Don Alway, assistant director in charge of the FBIs Los Angeles office, said in the statement. The BBC has used newly available court documents to uncover the man behind cyber heists that have cost his victims millions, from his humble beginnings as a Yahoo Boy hustler in Nigeria to a so-called Billionaire Gucci Master living a life of luxury in Dubai before his arrest last year. As he grew older, Seye says, Abbas liked to splash his cash: "He was generous. Many went to Malaysia and Abbas followed them, ending up in Kuala Lumpur around 2014, then Dubai in 2017. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. We contacted Instagram to ask why his account was still open. Experts don bin tell BBC Pidgin say if court find WebFirst broadcast: Thu 16 th Sep 2021, 02:32 on BBC World Service Australasia Latest broadcast: Thu 16 th Sep 2021, 20:06 on BBC World Service East Asia. Only a single letter or number will be different. A request for his bail and the chance to stay with his girlfriend's uncle in Homewood, Illinois, was denied on the grounds that he presented a risk of non-appearance. Ramon Abbas also known as Ray Hushpuppi faces 20 years in prison after he was arrested with a staggering 29 million of cash and 13 luxury cars. Some are hesitant to admit what has happened.". Di charges compromise, frauds and oda scams wey include plans wey target one U.S law firm, one foreign bank and one English Premier League Soccer club. Di Nigerian Instagram celebrity dey US to face charges on top accuse say im conspire to launder Hundreds of Millions of Dollars from business email. April 26, 2023 Hushpuppi: Notorious Nigerian fraudster jailed for 11 years in US BBCView Full coverage on Google News Sources 1/ by newsdesk. Is climate change killing Australian wine? I have seen parents who have taken their children to learn how to become Yahoo Boys., Seye says everyone knows Hushpuppi has committed a crime, but it is understandable: No-one prays to be poor. And now Mr Kyari too is wanted in the US on charges of fraud, money laundering and identity theft. He is facing charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Fashion; by newsdesk. I went to Nigeria to meet the man who scammed me, AI chatbots 'may soon be more intelligent than us', Russia troop deaths hit 20,000 in five months - US, Palestinian hunger striker dies in Israel prison, The 17 most eye-catching looks at the Met Gala, The burden of being cricket legend Tendulkar's son, 'My wife and six children joined Kenya starvation cult', On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry. Professionals were victimised. In February 2019,he attempted to launder 13m euros (11m; $15m) stolen by a gang of North Korean hackers from the Maltese Bank of Valletta. Instagram star hushpuppi has been charged with conspiracy to commit a massive money laundering scheme by the Department of Justice. Some are hesitant to admit what has happened.". He apologised to his family members for bringing them shame while commending the FBI for doing a thorough job while bringing him to justice. In February 2019, he attempted to launder 13m euros (11m; $15m) stolen by a gang of North Korean hackers from the Maltese Bank of Valletta. [15], He is the subject of a 2017 song "Telli Person" by Nigerian singer Timaya featuring Olamide and Phyno, with whom he had a long-running feud. Exclusive: Woodberry, Hushpuppis ally, pleads guilty to fraud, Hushpuppis ally, Woodberry pleads guilty to fraud charge in US, Hushpuppis ally, Woodberry, pleads guilty to internet fraud, forfeits $8m, others, Hushpuppis close ally Woodberry pleads guilty, forfeits $8m, luxury Dubai assets, Posh Dubai assets Hushpuppis ally, Woodberry, is to forfeit to US govt, Hushpuppis colleague Woodberry pleads guilty to internet fraud, to forfeit Dubai assets, return $8m to victims. Nigerian social media influencer, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas popularly known as Ray Hushpuppi, was charged and indicted in a $1.1 million fraud by the United States A complaint against him filed in court accuses Mr Abbas of leading a transnational network of cybercriminals whose targets included a US law firm, a foreign bank and an English Premier League football club. Ramon Abbas - better known as Hushpuppi to his millions of followers - has pleaded guilty to money laundering in a US court.The Nigerian social media influencer was famous for his extravagant lifestyle, showing off his designer clothing, luxury holidays, and expensive cars to 2.5million Instagram followers and 1.3 million Snapchat subscribers.But unknown to his fans, his lifestyle was funded by cybercrime.Originally from humble beginnings in Lagos, the so-called 'billionaire Gucci master' living a life of luxury in Dubai is now facing a 20-year jail sentence in the USA - and the FBI have dubbed him one of the world's most high-profile money launderers.Reporter: Princess AbumereProducer: Helen CliftonFilmed and edited: Joshua AkinyemiAnimations: Mayowa AlabiSubscribe: http://bit.ly/subscribetoafrica\rWebsite: https://www.bbc.com/africa\rFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnewsafrica/\rTwitter: https://www.twitter.com/bbcafrica/\rInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbcafrica/ The social media platform told the BBC that it had carried out an investigation into his account - but had decided not to close it. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. TittlePress Dr Oyenuga says Hushpuppi's influence endures as he is still regarded as a role model: "We're in a country where a lot of young people are suffering. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. He fears that he might get apprehended at immigration immediately.". "Brother I can't send from UK to Mexico," Abbas's sidekick messaged him. "Yahoo Boys" are romance scammers who took their name from the first free email available in Nigeria. Read about our approach to external linking. For pretrial, Ramon Abass aka Hushpuppi don bin plead not guilty to di four counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. His clients understand that he was victimised, Mr Almazar explains. [10][11][12] The arrest was part of an FBI investigation that indicted him as being a "key player" in a transnational cybercrime network that provided "safe havens for stolen money around the world. Experts don bin tell BBC Pidgin say if court find Hushpuppi guilty of di accuse, e fit face maximum prison sentence of nothing less than 20 years for federal prison. Only a single letter or number will be different. [36], Therefore, the linguistic juxtapositions of "Hushpuppi" and "Mr. Ibrahim Magu" by Twitter users serve as exonerative social media devices more broadly and have real-life consequences. [3] If convicted of conspiracy to engage in money laundering, Abbas would face a statutory maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, perhaps even 20 years, after which he will be deported to his home country Nigeria. Please check you have typed it correctly. This is when his Instagram posts - and crimes - went to another level. Despite himpleading guilty in April to money laundering, Hushpuppis social media is still live and attracting followers. Jon Shilland, fraud lead with the UK's National Crime Agency, says it can be difficult tracking down criminal networks based in multiple jurisdictions. [30] The Police chief was further implicated after his conversation with Hushpuppi was released. 40 mins; Local driver Seye told the BBC that he remembered Abbas as a young boy working alongside his mother in the Olojojo market. Wia dis foto come from, Twitter/@USAO_LosAngeles. Is climate change killing Australian wine? We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. But soon, the cracks between the gang started to show. [20][21] According to the affidavit Abbas had provided a co-conspirator with two bank accounts in Europe anticipating the receipt of $5.6 million each of the fraudulently obtained funds. Listen to the latest episodes of The Lazarus Heist on BBC Sounds. Hushpuppi's close associate, Mompha once revealed that his dad is still a cab driver in Lagos. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. Too bad they caught on, or it would have been a nice pay out.. They're sometimes called 419 scams, after the relevant article in the Nigerian Criminal Code. "I really don't have any comment right now, I have to learn the facts about this case," he told the BBC. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? "His clients understand that he was victimised," Mr Almazar explains. Terrifyingly simple, BEC works by intercepting payments via fake emails that appear to come from an address that is almost exactly the same as the supplier's. Tori bin dey circulate for local media say di Instagram celebrity bin receive fresh charges. He assumed the identity of a New York banker to entrap his victim, a Qatari businessperson seeking a $15m loan to build a new school in the Gulf state. Rapper 50 Cents to Produce Hushpuppi Series, retrieved: Bloomberg (June 2021). [32], On 19 September 2022, Judge Otis Wright delayed Hushpuppi's sentencing to 3 November 2022. "I have seen parents who have taken their children to learn how to become Yahoo Boys. That is the real story here.". Little did they know that his lavish lifestyle was funded through a complex web of cyber-heists. Ray Hushpuppi was already popular on Instagram for his luxurious lifestyle documented exhaustively on his page but he has gained another 100,000 followers since his dramatic arrest. Please try different keywords. please read our, Internet Fraud: U.S. court sets Mr Woodberrys sentencing for July 11, Hushpuppis accomplice pleads guilty to internet fraud; agrees to pay $8 million to victims, Fraud: Hushpuppis partner forfeits choice Dubai properties, to pay $8m, Hushpuppis partner Woodberry to pay $8 million after pleading guilty to fraud. All rights reserved. Hushpuppi, for charges bordering on Business Email Compromise (BEC) and money laundering. They keep finding out.. Professionals were victimised. Hushpuppi alleges bribing DCP Abba Kyari to arrest co-fraudster in $1.1m scam By Motunrayo on Thursday, July 29, 2021 Hushpuppi, the embattled Nigerian socialite, alleged that he bribed Abba Kyari, a deputy commissioner of police (DCP), to arrest a co-fraudster, according to US court documents. [37] The study concludes that colonial legacies contributed to the North-South divide regarding online fraud patterns in Nigeria. The Guardian Nigeria Newspaper brings you the latest headlines, opinions, political news, business reports and international news. Hushpuppi is currently standing trial in the US for cyber fraud, money laundering and other related crimes, following his arrest in 2020 along with associates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). "If Dubai wanted to expel him, they should have expelled him back to Nigeria. No comments. The scam was very sophisticated. One Million Dollars Per Constituency: Middle Belt Dev't Authority commissions three projects. The United States Central District Court in California has sentenced Nigerian internet sensation, Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi to 11 years in prison. You can unsubscribe whenever you want. Like many Yahoo Boys, Abbas broadened his criminal horizons. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Stay informed. 2023 BBC. He assumed the identity of a New York banker to entrap his victim, a Qatari businessperson seeking a $15m loan to build a new school in the Gulf state. Ramon Olorunwa Abbas aka Hushpuppi reported $400,000 fraud inside US prison no be true. Read about our approach to external linking. One UK victim, who wanted to remain anonymous, says he lost 500,000, has been forced to leave the UAE - and is himself facing criminal proceedings in Dubai because of the debt he has incurred as a result of the fraud. Multiple sources in Malta including Times of Malta and Malta Today also repeated Forbes's claims that Hushpuppi could have been behind the attack. Huspuppi go get court sentencing for dis charges on 11 July, 2022. Hushpuppi's former home, 9 Ogunyomi Street, in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos, Hushpuppi's Instagram posts about his luxurious lifestyle attracted hundreds of thousands of likes, Investigators say it is difficult to track down scammers when those in a network are based all over the world. Court documents allege Abbass crimes cost victims almost $24m in total. NDLEA said Abba Kyari, who was suspended for his relationship with fraudster Abass Olorunwa, better known as Hushpuppi, is a member of an international drug cartel "With the intelligence at our disposal, the Agency The purported messages allege that Hushpuppi paid 8m naira ($19,000; 14,000) into accounts linked to the Nigerian police whose details were provided by Mr Kyari, to detain Mr Chibuzor. Just days after we put the same question to Snapchat, which deleted Hushpuppi's account. A United States District Court in California has fixed July 27 as new date for the trial of the Nigerian Instagram celebrity facing fraud charges, Ramon Abass, also To see how, and to learn how to control cookies, Marshals Service transport Hushpuppi to Los Angeles wia im trial go start. In May 2019, Abbas was tasked with setting up a bank account in Mexico. The United Arab Emirates has no extradition treaty with the United States but Dubai police said they had been extradited to the US. Some of it was laundered via the purchase of a watch worth a staggering $230,000. Local driver Seye told the BBC that he remembered Abbas as a young boy working alongside his mother in the Olojojo market. "Yahoo Boys" are romance scammers who took their name from the first free email available in Nigeria. Read about our approach to external linking. Click to get a sign-in link sent to your email. His social media posts showed him living a life of luxury, complete with private jets, ultra-expensive cars and high-end clothes and watches. Instagram celebrity known as Ray Hushpuppi has been charged for stealing more than $1.1 million in an elaborate scam in which he faked the financing of a Qatari school. And then with that identity theft, they went into dating [scams], explains Dr Adedeji Oyenuga, a cybercrime expert at Lagos State University. The accounts clerk is fooled into thinking it is a legitimate request from the supplier - and, with a single click of a mouse, vast sums of money are lost. Why you fit trust BBC News; How dem dey take use am; We are sorry, but the email address you entered does not appear to be valid. Most populous nation: Should India rejoice or panic? He represents around 25 people including eight UK citizens in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), all of whom believe they are victims of one of Hushpuppis BEC scams. [36], Related to the above, another study on public opinion on Twitter revealed significant discrepancies between Nigeria's northern and southern regions regarding online fraudsters' arrests, convictions, and sentencing. Their foreign suppliers did not receive the money Were talking about thousands of euros.. By Helen Clifton & Princess Abumere. De external site no concern BBC. He used to buy beer for everyone around.". They then appeared in a Chicago court on 3 July. Hushpuppi's former home, 9 Ogunyomi Street, in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos, Hushpuppi's Instagram posts about his luxurious lifestyle attracted hundreds of thousands of likes, Investigators say it is difficult to track down scammers when those in a network are based all over the world. Don't miss out! "Damn," Abbas said in a text to a fellow scammer at the time in messages obtained by the FBI. Between December 2019 and February 2020, Abbas and a gang of alleged middlemen in Kenya, Nigeria and the US groomed and conned the victim out of more than a million dollars. "His clients understand that he was victimised," Mr Almazar explains. "They came up with the idea of stealing identities. Video, On board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, he attempted to launder 13m euros (11m; $15m) stolen by a gang of North Korean hackers from the Maltese Bank of Valletta, pleading guilty in April to money laundering, The Nigerian super sleuth wanted in the US, Flashy Nigerian Instagrammers 'caught with $40m in cash', Why Nigerian cyber fraudsters are 'role models', Serena Williams announces pregnancy at Met Gala, Corpse found under Tibet hotel bed leads to probe, New record as 4.56m Indians take flights in a day, Shooting suspect was deported four times - US media, Met Gala 2023: Stars celebrate Karl Lagerfeld, Japan to ban upskirting in stronger sex crime laws, BP profits of 4bn in three months spark criticism. cookies to improve your experience and customise advertising. According to court documents in California, he has cost victims 17m in total. On Instagram, he dropped the Billionaire Gucci Master moniker for Real Estate Developer about eight months before his arrest and subsequent transfer to the US to stand trial. Damn, Abbas said in a text to a fellow scammer at the time in messages obtained by the FBI. File on 4's Hush Money: The Rise and Fall of an International Fraudster is available on BBC Sounds. He would not want to ruin his credibility and status rather than stay here and face these allegations. A spokesman for the US "Brother I can't send from UK to Mexico," Abbas's sidekick messaged him. But the Premiership scam fell apart when the UK banks refused to pay into the Mexican account. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Notorious and disgraced Internet fraudster, Olalekan Jacob Ponle, also "But if you look at the bank accounts that police have traced, they all belong to the records obtained by the police in their raids [on Hushpuppi's home in Dubai].". Just days after we put the same question to Snapchat, which deleted Hushpuppi's account. One member threatened to blow the whole scam wide open as he was unhappy about the money he was getting. This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Terrifyingly simple, BEC works by intercepting payments via fake emails that appear to come from an address that is almost exactly the same as the suppliers. Homepage. "Their foreign suppliers did not receive the money We're talking about thousands of euros.". 3.The truly fascinating story of Doris Payne, aka "Diamond Doris," a 91-year-old jewel thief who used 22 aliases while stealing millions of dollars worth of jewelry from around the world and was arrested more than 20 times in countries like Greece, France, England, and Switzerland over the course of six decades. His family are still in the UAE. [9], On the night his apartment at the Palazzo Versace was raided in an operation code-named Fox Hunt 2, Abbas was arrested alongside eleven others in six simultaneous raids. Once a relationship is established via a false identity, romance scammers wheedle money from their online lovers. "You'll have to ask them about why they called it an extradition," the US Department of Justice (DoJ) spokesman responded in an email. "[12], Many news platforms have reported that Abbas was once a second-hand clothes seller in Lagos. The reply shows the next heist was being planned: Next one is in few weeks; will let you know when its ready. The 37-year-old began his career in Oworonshoki, a poor coastal area in the north-east of Lagos, Nigerias commercial capital. "[27], On 28 July 2021, Hushpuppi pleaded guilty to money laundering[28] and also identified a Deputy Commissioner of Police in Nigeria, Abba Kyari, as an accomplice in his $1.1 million scam deal. Court documents allege Abbas's crimes cost victims almost $24m in total. "This case targets a key player in a large, transnational conspiracy who was living an opulent lifestyle in another country while allegedly providing safe havens for stolen money around the world," United States Attorney Nick Hanna said in a statement when the charges were announced. But di viral tori bin claim say 'US prosecutors on Wednesday 16 March 2022 submit court documents wey show say im committed fraud and launder over $400k from behind bars.'. The Latest. "Damn," Abbas said in a text to a fellow scammer at the time in messages obtained by the FBI. [37], In November 2022, Curtis James Jackson III, a.k.a, 50 Cent, announced his plan on Instagram to shoot a television series on the life of Hushpuppi, including his fraudulent career path and sentencing. Hushpuppi is facing criminal charges in the United States for conspiracy to launder money obtained from business email compromise frauds and other scams, including schemes that defrauded a US law firm of about $40 million, illegally transferred $14.7 million from a foreign financial institution, and targeted to steal $124 million from an English [35] Specifically, Twitter responses (from Nigerians in Nigeria and abroad) innovatively merge the names of a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Mr. Ibrahim Magu accused of fraudulent and corrupt practices) and Hushpuppi as "Hush Ibrahim," "Hush Magu," and "Puppi Magu. November 8, 2022. Some are hesitant to admit what has happened.. November 8, 2022. Like many Yahoo Boys, Abbas broadened his criminal horizons. The BBC has used newly available court documents to uncover the man behind cyber heists that have cost his victims millions, from his humble beginnings as a "Yahoo Boy" hustler in Nigeria to a so-called "Billionaire Gucci Master" living a life of luxury in Dubai before his arrest last year. By his own admission, during just an 18-month period defendant conspired to launder over $300 million, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum, although they said much of the intended loss did not ultimately materialize..

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