EFCC Nabs Suspected Crypto Fraudster Behind $8 Million Scam Targeting Australians
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended Osang Usie Otukpa, a Nigerian man accused of scamming 139 Australians out of $8 million through a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme
Otukpa was arrested at Lagos’ Murtala Mohammed International Airport upon his return from the United States. According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the suspect used multiple aliases, including Ford Thompson, Oscar Donald Tyler, Michael Haye, Jose Vitto, and Kristin Davidson, to orchestrate the elaborate fraud.
The scheme operated through a bogus cryptocurrency platform, Liquid Asset Group, which Otukpa aggressively promoted on social media to lure victims. The EFCC disclosed that funds from the scam were funneled through a global cryptocurrency exchange into Otukpa’s accounts.
“The suspect was taken into custody on Friday, December 6, 2024, following a strategic stakeout at the airport,” Oyewale confirmed in a statement, adding that the suspect will face charges after investigations are concluded.
This arrest underscores the EFCC’s ongoing commitment to combating cybercrime and ensuring financial integrity worldwide.
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