Philippines Authorities Capture Nigerian Wanted for $1M Cyber Scam

Nigerian Cybercrime Suspect Arrested in Philippines

“He will remain in our immigration blacklist and banned from re-entering the Philippines...”

US-Wanted Nigerian National Arrested in Philippines for COVID-19 Cyber Fraud: Ahmed Kamilu Alex Accused of $500-$48,500 Scam

The Philippines' Bureau of Immigration (BI) recently announced the arrest of Ahmed Kamilu Alex, a 35-year-old Nigerian national, for COVID-19-related cyber fraud. He was wanted by the United States and was caught by the BI's fugitive search unit (FSU) on October 11 along Panay Avenue in Barangay Paligsahan, Philippines.

Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado confirmed that Alex was added to the immigration blacklist months prior as a fugitive from justice. This arrest marks a significant milestone in the BI's efforts to crack down on international cybercrime.

US authorities have accused Alex of masterminding a large-scale cyber fraud scheme alongside two accomplices, exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic. They allegedly created fake websites mimicking genuine US government agencies, deceiving mainly military personnel into paying $500 to $48,500 for emergency leave requests.

The scammers preyed on unsuspecting victims during a vulnerable time, taking advantage of the pandemic's chaos. Their tactics involved setting up convincing fake websites, making it difficult for victims to distinguish between legitimate and fraudulent platforms.

The US government is seeking Alex's deportation to face trial for his crimes. Currently, Alex is in custody at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, Philippines, awaiting the deportation process. According to the Bureau of Immigration (BI), “He will remain in our immigration blacklist and banned from re-entering the Philippines after he is deported.” This ensures Alex won't be able to re-enter the Philippines once he's deported.

Cyber fraud and collusion scams are on the rise, and this case highlights the importance of vigilance and reporting suspicious activities. If you or someone you know has been a victim of cyber-enabled crime, you can report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), the central hub for reporting such crimes.