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U.S. Seizes $1.5 Million Linked To Nigerian Fraudster Avwerosuo Omokri - Crime - Nairaland 7102t

U.S. Seizes $1.5 Million Linked To Nigerian Fraudster Avwerosuo Omokri (18344 Views)

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Morbeta11(m): 12:45pm On Mar 06

U.S. Secret Service seizes $1.5 million linked to Nigerian fraudster Omokri’s Binance crypto

The secret service sought forfeiture of the seized $1.5 million, having established they were proceeds of wire fraud and money laundering.


The U.S. Secret Service seized $1.5 million from the Binance wallet of Nigerian serial fraudster Avwerosuo Omokri after numerous complaints from victims triggered a detailed investigation into the suspect’s activities and bank records.

Special agent Katrina Caulfield uncovered the operations of an internet fraud syndicate, running fraudulent trading investment platforms to lure unsuspecting victims. She was seeking a forfeiture in rem of the seized funds, documents seen by Peoples Gazette showed.

Victim 1, a resident of Newton in Massachusetts, March 2024, filed an internet crime complaint form to seek help after she fell for a cryptocurrency scam where she lost 1.33272285 BTC.

She told Ms Caulfield that she ed a group on Facebook in February 2024 named ‘Financial Independence Forum’, where were promised “financial independence and early retirement through reliable investment.”

Victim 1, who was not named, said she soon began to connect with the of the Facebook group, including Tom Sheldon Haley. They began to exchange messages on Facebook Messenger.

Mr Haley, an of the group, portrayed himself as an investment expert versed in online trading. Their chats became frequent, and she was asked to invest in Trade Propel, an investment platform that promised high returns.

Mr Haley sent her detailed steps on how to create a new on Trade Propel.

On March 13, 2024, Victim 1 transferred 1.3 BTC from Coinbase to a destination wallet provided by the Facebook group .

After some time, she observed her deposit had increased on the website and tried to withdraw the funds, only to be told by Trade Propel customer that she must pay “tax on earnings” before initiating withdrawal.

The U.S. Secret Service special agent said the demand for more money for investors to access their funds was typical of many scammers, as they often tried to squeeze every penny out of victims.

“Based on my training and experience, I know that scammers often attempt to extract additional funds from victims by instructing victims to pay ‘taxes’ to the scammers before the victims can withdraw funds,” said Ms Caulfield in her submission.

Checks on the Trade Propel website ticked all the fraud boxes as the Secret Service special agent said she could not find any relevant company information, policies and company details.

Instead, the website had bios of hedge fund billionaires George Soros, Paul Tudor, and Ray Dialo, claiming that the trio co-signed Trade Propel.

“Also, the website falsely claims to be part of FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority) and SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation),” wrote the U.S. Secret Service special agent.

Ms Caulfield said the platform owner went to great lengths to make the website look legitimate for the purpose of defrauding people.

A money trail by the Secret Service showed how the syndicate immediately transferred the victim’s 1.3 BTC to an intermediary wallet before sending it to another wallet ending in –HKbIS.

Intermediary wallets are often used by fraudsters to disguise and clean up illicit money trails on the Blockchain in order to throw security agencies off their scent.

“Intermediary wallets the movement of illicitly obtained funds as they help to conceal and disguise the source of the BTC by layering and severing straight line coordinates of transaction activity on the Blockchain to cash out exchangers,” Ms Caulfied stated in her motion seeking forfeiture.

However, the Secret Service special agent was able to by all the layering and cover-ups to track the bitcoin to its final destination wallet.

records for ID ending in XXXXX3280 obtained from Binance showed that the wallet was ed to Nigerian port holder Avwerosuo Omokri with the ed email address [email protected].

Coinbase provided information that showed additional victims had paid into the same intermediary wallet of the fraud syndicate. Victim 2 paid $ 29,000, while Victim 3 paid $35,000. The fourth victim was instructed to pay into a different intermediary wallet.

Further investigations revealed that the Tom Sheldon Haley’s Facebook was not operated by one person but by a fraud syndicate that often deployed the rank and files to approach victims on social media platforms, including Facebook and LinkedIn.

The higher-level fraudsters were the ones on the wallet backends receiving and trying to cover up illicit money flows. Binance records showed that Mr Omokri’s syndicate used four different devices to access the wallets.

Ms Caulfield, on February 16, 2025, sought a forfeiture in rem of the seized $1.5 million, having established that they were proceeds of wire fraud and money laundering.

The seized funds include 7.23918814 BTC1, 105.75351403 ETH2, 636.11899592 AVAX3, 14120.995091 USDT4; 2380467906.17 SHIB and 319008151.01 PEPE.

https://gazettengr.com/u-s-secret-service-seizes-1-5-million-linked-to-nigerian-fraudster-omokris-binance-crypto-/

6 Likes 2 Shares

EmperorIsaac(m): 2:00pm On Mar 06
grin

2 Likes

Built2last: 5:55pm On Mar 06
The last name sounds synonymous


I have not called anyone's name. If i say Re** you say o, omo na you sabi

90 Likes 4 Shares

TechCapon(m): 5:55pm On Mar 06
Notice how every single crypto he has was tracked and seized? One thing I learned is that crypto is not even safe to hide cash anymore. If they want to track it and seize the, they'll do it.
I was discussing with a friend about hushpuppi and he said that he has a lot of crypto hidden away from the FBI and he'll be very rich when he finishes his prison term and I told him it's a lie.

Every single and crypto wallet he owns will be tracked and seized. The guy doesn't have any secret cash anywhere except he buried it in the ground. As long as it's on any online platform, it has a digital trail that can be tracked just like this fraudster.

85 Likes 12 Shares

givedemwotowoto: 5:55pm On Mar 06
Does he have a relationship with Nigeria’s Wendel Simlin? That veteran fraudster turned political commentator

62 Likes 8 Shares

adalame(m): 5:55pm On Mar 06
All those apps you use to disguise your ip doesn't work. The manufacturers of these devices can track all the activities on your phone and s.

But wait o. This guy resemble Reno oo

62 Likes 4 Shares

cr7lomo: 5:55pm On Mar 06
Omokri again...taught they said government cant access crypto..... make una de play

40 Likes 5 Shares

eallstar: 5:56pm On Mar 06
No

1 Like 1 Share

Petmayor: 5:56pm On Mar 06
Reno, come see your brother.

29 Likes 3 Shares

eepeepook: 5:58pm On Mar 06
I opened Nairaland this afternoon, no different from any other day. What I saw shocked me to my marrow. Natasha Akpoti - Uduaghan is accusing me of sexual harassment. Wetin concern me concern National Assembly? The woman should take her time with accusations. Not all males are the same.

5 Likes 2 Shares

Anijay1212(m): 5:58pm On Mar 06
angry angry angry
All fraudsters should given life imprisonment.

1 Like 2 Shares

Salewa97: 5:58pm On Mar 06
No be small thing. That one don go be that.

Government can seize crypto assets. When USA do am, it’s normal.

Let Nigeria government seize crypto assets tomorrow, then you go dey hear some delusionist Dey talk about privacy invasion and bla bla.

35 Likes 3 Shares

jojo1415: 5:58pm On Mar 06
Omokri family and scam na 5&6

28 Likes 2 Shares

Built2last: 5:58pm On Mar 06
cr7lomo:
Omokri again...taught they said government cant access crypto..... make una de play

Government can't they need to hack your phone. Take over your devices and get access most times.

Commit a serious crime in western world and see how much they have about you just based on your phone

10 Likes

deji17: 5:59pm On Mar 06
Omokri? ? Any connection with the former Presidential aide to Jonathan?

40 Likes 2 Shares

Sonnobax15(m): 5:59pm On Mar 06
lipsrsealed
Na urhobo man be that angry

These nighas wanna start bringing shame to our tribe now abi na wetin dey xup? angry

1 Like 1 Share

SultanOfPuna: 5:59pm On Mar 06
Ren9
EXLOVER(m): 5:59pm On Mar 06
70% of houses for island na fraud money them use build am

80% of houses for Asaba na fraud money them take build, money wey this boys dey collect nor be beans.

Real estate is fvcking expensive, rent is expensive, clothes are expensive.

Because of fraud money.

36 Likes 10 Shares

iykololo(m): 5:59pm On Mar 06

8 Likes 1 Share

Freetech: 5:59pm On Mar 06
Thank you Mod for putting correct full name

The headless mob, FAKE news merchant already masturbating on it trying to rope in Reno.

32 Likes 3 Shares

Leonardo4(m): 6:00pm On Mar 06
adalame:
All those apps you use to disguise your ip doesn't work. The manufacturers of these devices can track all the activities on your phone and s.
Gbam

6 Likes 2 Shares

ATEAMS: 6:00pm On Mar 06
Naxxo
MaziObinnaokija: 6:00pm On Mar 06
sad
Jman06(m): 6:00pm On Mar 06
That must be Reno Omokri using a pseudonym to cover up.

I've always suspected that man!

13 Likes 1 Share

Iceiscold: 6:00pm On Mar 06
Let him face the music

1 Like

free2ryhme: 6:01pm On Mar 06

1 Like

MaziObinnaokija: 6:01pm On Mar 06
jojo1415:
Omokri family and scam na 5&6
kid sad.
MemphitzDgreat1(m): 6:01pm On Mar 06
Seems today is dedicated to the Name-checkers Association of Nigeria ooooooo

4 Likes 1 Share

Kingpele(m): 6:02pm On Mar 06
Fraud family he might be related to that loud mouth fugitive in London.....

1 Like

hatchy: 6:02pm On Mar 06
Rhino OmoKriminal and his family are all Criminals. They are exhibiting the full meaning of their name.

Rhino should know that if you live in a glass house don't throw stones.

10 Likes 1 Share

Badtman(m): 6:02pm On Mar 06
Reno 8 grin we see you o …

6 Likes

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