FBI begins manhunt for two Nigerians in $13m fraud

FBI begins manhunt for two Nigerians in $13m fraud

The United States has charged two Nigerian nationals, Shoidia Babatunde and Jamiu Ahmed, in connection with a fraudulent email scheme that allegedly defrauded healthcare companies of over $13 million.

In a statement released on Thursday by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, it was revealed that the suspects redirected more than $13 million in payments intended for Fairview Health from several Minnesota-based healthcare firms to accounts under their control and those of their associates.

US Attorney Andrew Luger stated that Babatunde, 43, and Ahmed, 31, deceived employees at multiple healthcare organizations in Minnesota, persuading them to transfer funds to fraudulent bank accounts.

According to court records, the fraudulent activities carried out by the pair and their collaborators spanned from October 2020 to 2024.

After an investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the two suspects are currently on the run.

“As part of the scheme, Babatunde and Ahmed created a fake ‘spoofed’ internet domain designed to appear as though it was controlled by Fairview Health,” the statement from the US Attorney’s Office detailed.

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The duo is said to have set up fraudulent email accounts, making it seem as if they belonged to Fairview Health executives, including high-ranking officials such as the CEO, executive vice president, general counsel, and a business analyst.

“Babatunde and Ahmed used the fake emails to carry out a ‘phishing’ scheme to fraudulently obtain names, passwords, and access to payment accounts,” the release further explained.

Using these counterfeit accounts, they allegedly communicated with other Minnesota-based health insurance companies, offering new banking details where payments meant for Fairview Health should be transferred.

“Unbeknownst to the vendor companies, the new accounts were actually controlled by Babatunde and Ahmed and their co-conspirators, not Fairview Health,” the statement added.

The fraudulent redirection of payments totaled more than $13 million. Babatunde and Ahmed, both Nigerian citizens, remain fugitives.

 

FBI begins manhunt for two Nigerians in $13m fraud