Instagram has said Nigerian fraudster Hushpuppi may continue using his account despite facing conviction for fraud in the United States. Dubai-based The National reported that Instagram declared Hushpuppi free to continue using his social media account. It said the Nigerian did not violate the social media platform's laws. He was handed over to the agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who took him to the United States of America to face the consequences of his criminal activities. Ramon Abbas known to his 2.5 million Instagram followers as Hushpuppi is considered by the FBI to be one of the worlds most high-profile fraudsters and faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years in the US after pleading guilty to money laundering. This is when his Instagram posts - and crimes - went to another level. November 8, 2022. Hushpuppi also deny money laundering conspiracies, international money laundering and oda crime dem. Antoine Verglas Opens Up About His Journey To Becoming A Fashion Photographer. [38][39] A short documentary about the life of Hushpuppi till his arrest has been released by both Bloomberg[40] and BBC Africa.[41]. (2022). The rise and fall of Hushpuppi the social media influencer and global money-launderer. He texted his contact - Nigerian police officer Abba Kyari - saying: "I want him to go through serious beating of his life. At Mondays sentencing, Abbas was sentenced to to 135 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $922,857 in restitution to the law firm and $809,983 in restitution to the victim in Qatar. He fears that he might get apprehended at immigration immediately.". Hushpuppi's former home, 9 Ogunyomi Street, in the Oworonshoki area of Lagos, Hushpuppi's Instagram posts about his luxurious lifestyle attracted hundreds of thousands of likes, Investigators say it is difficult to track down scammers when those in a network are based all over the world. [15], He is the subject of a 2017 song "Telli Person" by Nigerian singer Timaya featuring Olamide and Phyno, with whom he had a long-running feud. And now Mr Kyari too is wanted in the US on charges of fraud, money laundering and identity theft. He texted his contact - Nigerian police officer Abba Kyari - saying: "I want him to go through serious beating of his life. July 5, 2022. He also helped launder millions of pounds stolen from a British company and a professional soccer club in the United Kingdom, got a New York-based law firm to transfer nearly $923,000 to a criminal account and acknowledged in a plea agreement that he helped defraud someone in Qatar who sought a $15 million loan to build a school, federal prosecutors said. It is alleged that Mr Kyari then falsely arrested and detained the middleman for a month in a squalid Nigerian cell. Just days after we put the same question to Snapchat, which deleted Hushpuppi's account. Hushpuppi S2.3 Hushpuppi. Hushpuppi [36] The study concludes that the process by which some actions are interpreted as a crime compared to others is a moral enterprise. They're sometimes called 419 scams, after the relevant article in the Nigerian Criminal Code. Investigators noted the "substantial wealth" on display on hushpuppi's account, where he poses with supercars, shopping bags and in luxury locations. We don't have an account for this email address. Subscribe to our email alert of the day's top stories from the UK and around the world. Mr Abbas' lawyer Gal Pissetzky told the BBC that his client, who posts on Instagram about his extravagant lifestyle, was not a criminal and had made his money legitimately. TittlePress But they also have to cover their losses, so right now he doesnt know how he can get back to the UAE. 40 mins; See all episodes from The Documentary Podcast, A window into our world - investigating, exploring and telling stories from everywhere. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. Hushpuppi is currently being held in the United States for financial offences bordering on wire fraud to which he has pleaded guilty and faces a 20-year jail term if convicted. But some believe the actual total could be much higher. Hushpuppi Mr Ponle, 29, ran the "Mr Woodberry" Instagram account but the FBI says he used the alias "Mark Kain" in emails. The United Arab Emirates has no extradition treaty with the United States but Dubai police said they had been extradited to the US. The BBC has used newly available court documents to uncover the man behind cyber heists that have cost his victims millions, from his humble beginnings as a Yahoo Boy hustler in Nigeria to a so-called Billionaire Gucci Master living a life of luxury in Dubai before his arrest last year. He did not answer how he ended up in US custody. [37] Specifically, the study showed that the criminalization of people indigenous to southern Nigeria, such as Hushpuppi, differs substantially from that of Northerners, suggesting that more Southerners are more implicated in internet fraud than Northerners. Only a single letter or number will be different. Abbas is also accused of committing fraud in Nigeria as he is also wanted by Nigeria's financial crime police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.[25]. Ramon Abbas - known to his 2.5 million Instagram followers as Hushpuppi - is considered by the FBI to be one of the world's most high-profile fraudsters and faces a prison sentence of up to 20 years in the US after pleading guilty to money laundering. "We cannot say with 100% certainty that Hushpuppi is behind it," Mr Almazar says. "But if you look at the bank accounts that police have traced, they all belong to the records obtained by the police in their raids [on Hushpuppi's home in Dubai]." The social media platform told the BBC that it had carried out an investigation into his account - but had decided not to close it. hushpuppi Abbas, under the name Ray Hushpuppi, had more than 2 million Instagram followers before he was arrested in 2020 in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. [34], Public opinion on social media offers opportunities to explore contestations between diverse viewpoints. Advantageous comparison: using Twitter responses to understand similarities between cybercriminals (Yahoo Boys) and politicians (Yahoo men). "I want to spend money to send this boy to jail, let him go for a very long time.". Despite him pleading guilty in April to money laundering, Hushpuppi's social media is still live and attracting followers. He has previously denied having any criminal involvement with Abbas - and has not responded to the BBC's requests for comment. his efforts to launder millions of stolen dollars. According to the FBI, in 2020 BEC fraud resulted in losses of $1.8bn. File on 4 & BBC Africa Ramon Abbas - known to his 2.5 million Instagram followers as Hushpuppi - is considered by the FBI to be one of the world's most high Tweets and reactions: revealing the geographies of cybercrime perpetrators and the North-South divide. Ramon Olorunwa Abbas (born 11 October 1982), commonly known as Hushpuppi, Hush, or Ray Hushpuppi is a Nigerian former Instagram influencer and convicted felon. Please check you have typed it correctly. "You'll have to ask them about why they called it an extradition," the US Department of Justice (DoJ) spokesman responded in an email. But some believe the actual total could be much higher. In 2019, he helped launder some $14.7 million stolen by North Korean hackers from a bank in Malta, funneling the money through banks in Romania and Bulgaria, prosecutors said. Hushpuppi Notorious and disgraced Internet fraudster, Olalekan Jacob Ponle, also known as Woodberry, has pleaded guilty to internet fraud. hushpuppi Shopping trolleys filled with goods were abandoned at checkouts as payment systems shut down. Jon Shilland, fraud lead with the UK's National Crime Agency, says it can be difficult tracking down criminal networks based in multiple jurisdictions. [1] He was sentenced in the United States to 11 years for conspiracy to launder money obtained from business email compromise frauds and other scams, including schemes that defrauded a US law firm of about $40 million, illegally transferred $14.7 million from a foreign financial institution, and targeted to steal $124 million from an English Premier League club. WebThe big boy Hushpuppi was humbled when he was handcuffed just like a petty criminal, his designers and latest cars could do nothing. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser. He has spent his life in the UAE. Mr Almazar says shame prevents many more of Hushpuppi's victims coming forward. WebFirst broadcast: Thu 16 th Sep 2021, 02:32 on BBC World Service Australasia Latest broadcast: Thu 16 th Sep 2021, 20:06 on BBC World Service East Asia. Stay informed. His family are still in the UAE. Mr Ponle, the other Nigerian arrested in Dubai and currently in custody in the United States, is also preparing for trial. "They came up with the idea of stealing identities. Now, Assignment unmasks Ramon Abbas, revealing a complicated, sometimes ruthless character driven by a thirst for wealth and celebrity status. cookies to improve your experience and customise advertising. During di detention hearing, court for di Northern District of Illinois, USA rule say make di U.S. It is alleged that Mr Kyari then falsely arrested and detained the middleman for a month in a squalid Nigerian cell. [32], On 19 September 2022, Judge Otis Wright delayed Hushpuppi's sentencing to 3 November 2022. He assumed the identity of a New York banker to entrap his victim, a Qatari businessperson seeking a $15m loan to build a new school in the Gulf state. "But if you look at the bank accounts that police have traced, they all belong to the records obtained by the police in their raids [on Hushpuppi's home in Dubai].". "OMG. Click here to sign-in and subscribe via a link sent to your email. [7] Though the affidavit did not name any bank, according to Forbes, the date of the attack and amount mentioned in the affidavit matched that of the attack on Malta's Bank of Valletta in February 2019. WebHushpuppis Ally, Woodberry Pleads Guilty To Yahoo Yahoo, To Forfeit $8 Million, Cars, Watches, Others. He was sentenced to nearly 12 years in federal prison and was ordered to pay more than $30 million in restitution. This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. According to the FBI, in 2020 BEC fraud resulted in losses of $1.8bn. 2023 BBC. [36], Therefore, the linguistic juxtapositions of "Hushpuppi" and "Mr. Ibrahim Magu" by Twitter users serve as exonerative social media devices more broadly and have real-life consequences. Abbass final big scam before his arrest in Dubai in June 2020 was straight-up identity theft, borrowed from the Yahoo Boy romance scams of his youth. Tori bin dey circulate for local media say di Instagram celebrity bin receive fresh charges. According to the FBI, in 2020 BEC fraud resulted in losses of $1.8bn. [20][21] According to the affidavit Abbas had provided a co-conspirator with two bank accounts in Europe anticipating the receipt of $5.6 million each of the fraudulently obtained funds. Neither are named in the court documents. Sorry, no headlines or news topics were found. None of the Premiership clubs would confirm whether or not they were the intended victim. grassroots elite basketball ; why does ted lasso have a southern accent . ; Insurance Penetration: CIIG moves to deepen awareness on policy purchase, May Day Celebration: Workers in Nkwanta rally to demand better labor conditions -Adom TV News, Access to Electricity: 12 border communities at Chereponi are connected to the national grid - Adom. But everyone knew the source of his mysterious wealth cybercrime; he was a Yahoo, Seye says. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) accuses Mr Abbas, 37, of conspiring to launder hundreds of millions of dollars from frauds known as Business Email Compromise (BEC) and other scams. In February 2019, he attempted to launder 13m euros (11m; $15m) stolen by a gang of North Korean hackers from the Maltese Bank of Valletta. VideoOn board the worlds last surviving turntable ferry, I didnt think make-up was made for black girls, Why there is serious money in kitchen fumes. NewsNow: Hushpuppi news | Breaking News & Search Yahoo Boys are romance scammers who took their name from the first free email available in Nigeria. Read about our approach to external linking. But some believe the actual total could be much higher. 'Gucci billionaire' influencer in plot to scam Premier League club Get the day's top headlines delivered to your inbox. Is climate change killing Australian wine? In that email the scammers posing as a supplier awaiting payment typically say theyve switched banks, so the payment will need to be wired to a different account; the details for which they will provide. We will not share your email address with any third parties. "Mr Ponle, are you there?" Use at least 8 characters, an uppercase and a lowercase letter, and a number or symbol. "Damn," Abbas said in a text to a fellow scammer at the time in messages obtained by the FBI. November 8, 2022. According to the affidavit[24] other communications between Abbas and one of his co-conspirators indicated that the two had conspired to "launder tens, and at times hundreds, of millions of dollars that were proceeds of other fraudulent schemes and computer intrusions, including a fraudulent scheme to steal 100 million ($124 million) from an English Premier League football club. "I want to spend money to send this boy to jail, let him go for a very long time.". "The scam was very sophisticated. Ramon Abbas could face up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to money laundering in July 2021. Terrifyingly simple, BEC works by intercepting payments via fake emails that appear to come from an address that is almost exactly the same as the suppliers. The scams were to be carried out via Business Email Compromise (BEC). 13.The story of Ramon Abbas, aka Hushpuppi, a popular Instagram influencer from Nigeria who became "one of the most prolific money launderers in the world," according to the FBI. Copyright 1997 - 2023 NewsNow Publishing Limited. You can unsubscribe whenever you want. [2], Until his arrest by the Dubai Police in June 2020 and subsequent extradition to the United States,[3][4][5][6] Abbas posted pictures and videos of his lavish spending on exotic cars, watches, designer clothes, bags from expensive brands like Gucci, Fendi, and Louis Vuitton and of himself boarding helicopters, with celebrities, footballers, and Nigerian politicians or while on charter jets. Hushpuppi latest news: US justice department dismiss Hushpuppi: the Instagram influencer and international We contacted Instagram to ask why his account was still open. He did not speak again. Like many Yahoo Boys, Abbas broadened his criminal horizons. Forgot your password? His father was a taxi driver. Neither are named in the court documents. So when you see someone who is rich, you will pray to God to give you his kind of wealth., BBCs detailed report on Hushpuppi the Instagram influencer and international fraudster, he attempted to launder 13m euros (11m; $15m) stolen by a gang of North Korean hackers from the Maltese Bank of Valletta, pleading guilty in April to money laundering. "But if you look at the bank accounts that police have traced, they all belong to the records obtained by the police in their raids [on Hushpuppi's home in Dubai].". Heliyon, 8(11), e11142. "He is a social media influencer with millions of followers, with millions of people that respect and loved him, and he loved them, and that's what he did. Despite him pleading guilty in April to money laundering, Hushpuppi's social media is still live and attracting followers. How Hushpuppi bribed Abba Kyari, the full text of their conversation Detectives seized more than 150 million dirham (about $40 million) in cash, 13 luxury cars worth Dh 25 million ($7M), 21 laptops, 47 smartphones, 15 memory storage devices, five external hard drives and 800,000 emails of potential victims alongside suitcases full of cash. "[3] Prosecutors cited his "significant" financial assets, "deep ties to foreign countries" and a lack of ties to the United States. Hushpuppi is believed to have defrauded his victims, including a Qatari businessman and English football club, to the tune of $24 million. By his own admission, during just an 18-month period defendant conspired to launder over $300 million, prosecutors wrote in a sentencing memorandum, although they said much of the intended loss did not ultimately materialize.. [36] The manifestation of linguistic maneuvering, "advantageous comparison" as a preferred technique of choice by Twitter users, exposes their total trivialization of online fraudsters' economic actions, e.g., Huspuppi. "Damn," Abbas said in a text to a fellow scammer at the time in messages obtained by the FBI. Too bad they caught on, or it would have been a nice pay out.. They see another young person who was once like them become that great. "Their foreign suppliers did not receive the money We're talking about thousands of euros.". Hushpuppi On Instagram, he dropped the "Billionaire Gucci Master" moniker for "Real Estate Developer" about eight months before his arrest and subsequent transfer to the US to stand trial. A fact known all too well by Dubai-based lawyer Barney Almazar. "Yahoo Boys" are romance scammers who took their name from the first free email available in Nigeria. An article in Bloomberg Businessweek details his actions leading to his arrest, incarceration, and a trial on 27 July 2021, in Los Angeles. The BBC has used newly available court documents to uncover the man behind cyber heists that have cost his victims millions, from his humble beginnings as a "Yahoo Boy" hustler in Nigeria to a so-called "Billionaire Gucci Master" living a life of luxury in Dubai before his arrest last year. U.S. court fixes new date for Hushpuppis trial Mr Almazar says shame prevents many more of Hushpuppi's victims coming forward. A spokesman for the US Department of Justice told the BBC that Hushpuppi was expelled from Dubai and was not extradited. Please ensure your password has at least 8 characters, an uppercase and a lowercase letter, and a number or symbol. One member threatened to blow the whole scam wide open as he was unhappy about the money he was getting. Please click 'Sign in and Subscribe' to continue. A notorious Instagram influencer from Nigeria has been jailed for more than 11 years in the US for his role in an international fraud syndicate. De external site no concern BBC. Snared by the FBI in 2020, Abbas is better known as Instagram influencer Hushpuppi, who flaunted a life of designer clothes, private jets and penthouse apartments to millions of followers. The affidavit claims that Mr Abbas conspired to launder $14.7m (11.7m) stolen in a cyber-heist from a foreign financial institution in February 2019. Once a relationship is established via a false identity, romance scammers wheedle money from their online lovers.