Nigerian Man Confesses to $6 Million Inheritance Scam Targeting Americans

A Nigerian citizen, Ehis Lawrence Akhimie, has confessed to masterminding a complex international inheritance scam that specifically targeted elderly and vulnerable Americans. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that the 41-year-old Akhimie admitted to operating a transnational fraud scheme that defrauded over $6 million from more than 400 victims over several years.

The scam involved sending letters to victims in the U.S., falsely claiming to be representatives of a bank in Spain. These letters informed recipients that a relative had died in another country and left them a multi-million-dollar inheritance. To claim the inheritance, victims were instructed to pay various fees, including delivery charges, taxes, and other expenses, under the pretense of avoiding government interference. Once the money was collected, the scammers never fulfilled their promises.

Akhimie now faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, emphasized the department's commitment to pursuing and prosecuting transnational criminals who defraud U.S. consumers, regardless of their location. This case highlights the importance of international collaboration in combating transnational crime.

The scam's modus operandi was meticulously designed to exploit the vulnerabilities of its targets. By posing as legitimate bank representatives and leveraging the emotional vulnerability of the victims, the scammers were able to extract significant sums of money. The DOJ's successful prosecution of Akhimie serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by such fraudulent activities and the need for continued vigilance and international cooperation to protect potential victims.