A Nigerian internet fraudster, Wiseman Oputa has been convicted of $500,000 fraud in the United states of America.
Wiseman Oputa was convicted of wire fraud in Houston, US
Photo credit: PM News
A 25-year-old Nigerian man who was residing in Houston has pleaded
guilty to perpetuating a wire fraud scheme involving various Internet
scams, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez.
Wiseman Oputa pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud. Beginning
Jan. 1, 2016, until Jan. 25, 2017, Oputa used counterfeit passports to
open bank accounts in the greater Houston area. The passports contained
photographs of Oputa but had different names and identification
information. He then worked with others to lure victims into sending
money into these bank accounts.
These funds were obtained through a variety of internet scams,
including business email compromise, romance schemes and unauthorized
intrusions into company email accounts. Checks or wire transfers were
then sent from the company’s accounts payable to accounts Oputa or
others controlled. Oputa would then use the counterfeit passports to
retrieve the fraudulently obtained funds.
In one instance in December 2016, Oputa opened an account at
Regions Bank with a counterfeit Ghanaian passport as identification.
Shortly thereafter the account received a wire transfer of $40,000 from a
victim who had been told to send money for taxes on money he had won in
Spain. USAA Bank identified the fraudulent and was able to recal the
wire.
U.S. District Judge Alfred H. Bennett accepted the guilty plea and
has set sentencing for July 6, 2017. At that time, Oputa faces up to 20
years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He will
remain in custody pending that hearing.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation
along with Department of State – Diplomatic Security Service and the
Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Elmilady is prosecuting
the case.
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