FBI Arrests Two Nigerians Over $50 Million Fraud Scheme

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested two Nigerian nationals, Nosakhare Nobore and Solomon Aluko, in connection with a massive fraud scheme that siphoned $50 million from the United States government and its citizens.

According to an indictment unsealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, the duo masterminded a sophisticated network of scams, centered around a guide dubbed the "Fraud Bible", used to defraud the American COVID-19 relief programs.

The fraudulent activities, which spanned from 2021 to 2025, also involved four other suspects: Jorge Gonzalez, Leonard Ujkic, Nicholas Pappas, and Shan Anand.

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky stated that the group exploited government support programs by stealing identities, creating fake businesses, and cashing counterfeit checks, many of which originated from COVID-19 relief funds. The fraudulent checks were reportedly funneled through bank accounts opened with stolen or fabricated identities. A bank employee allegedly assisted in facilitating the deposits.

The suspects also operated a Telegram channel called “2021 Fraud Bible,” where they shared methods and templates for carrying out the scams. The platform served as a hub for recruiting others into the operation and disseminating fraudulent strategies.

While the group initially aimed to steal $80 million, investigators confirmed they successfully cashed out approximately $50 million. The stolen funds were then withdrawn in cash or redirected to other bank accounts under their control.

Each suspect faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud (up to 30 years in prison), conspiracy to commit money laundering (20 years), conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government (10 years), and aggravated identity theft (mandatory two years).

Authorities emphasized their commitment to holding perpetrators of pandemic-related fraud accountable, warning that misuse of public assistance programs would be met with the full force of the law