UNITED STATES – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has exposed a major cyber fraud involving a Nigerian man, Ehiremen Aigbokhan, who is accused of stealing over $250k worth of cryptocurrency meant for Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration.
The FBI says the crime happened on December 26, 2024, when a scam email was sent to trick people into sending 250,300 USDT.ETH—a type of cryptocurrency that is equal in value to the U.S. dollar. At the time, that amount was worth over $250,000.
How He Did It
This scam is called a Business Email Compromise (BEC). It happens when someone pretends to be a trusted person or company by sending fake emails. The goal is to trick people into sending money.
In this case, Aigbokhan allegedly pretended to be someone involved in the Trump inauguration planning. He sent fake messages that looked real, and they led to the money being sent to a crypto wallet under his control.
FBI Traced the Crime to Nigeria
After checking emails, IP addresses, and crypto wallet activity, the FBI says they traced the scam back to Lagos, Nigeria.
They found:
- The emails came from Nigeria
- The crypto wallet was used from Nigerian internet locations
- Aigbokhan’s name came up in the digital trail
FBI Wants Aigbokhan Arrested
The FBI is now working with other law enforcement groups to arrest Aigbokhan. If arrested, he may face serious charges, including:
- Wire fraud (tricking someone to send money electronically)
- Money laundering (hiding stolen money)
- Hacking or unauthorized access
They may also ask Nigeria to send him to the U.S. through international law.
What Officials Are Saying
An FBI official said:
“This is a serious case. It shows we need to work together across countries to stop cybercrime, especially coming from West Africa.”
The U.S. government is now pushing for stronger action against international scammers.
What Is a BEC Scam?
A BEC (Business Email Compromise) scam is when:
- Someone sends a fake email pretending to be your boss, a partner, or a company
- You believe it’s real and send money or sensitive info
- The scammer steals the money and disappears
It’s one of the most common cyber scams in the world.