By Erewunmi Peace

In a shocking revelation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has uncovered a ₦460 million crypto scam targeting funds meant for former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration. The fraudulent operation has been linked to a Nigerian cybercriminal based in Lagos.

The FBI disclosed that the suspect, Ehiremen Aigbokhan, allegedly used a sophisticated Business Email Compromise (BEC) technique to impersonate an official of the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, deceiving a donor into transferring approximately 250,300 USDT.ETH (worth over ₦460 million).

Spoofed Identity and Block chain Trail

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the scammer created a fake email address that closely mimicked a legitimate committee official’s account, switching a capital “I” with a lowercase “l” to mislead the victim. The funds were moved through multiple crypto wallets in an attempt to cover the tracks.

Thanks to advanced block chain analysis, U.S. authorities were able to trace the stolen digital assets. So far, approximately $40,300 (about ₦74 million) has been recovered.

“Fraudsters continue to evolve, but so does our ability to investigate and recover stolen assets,” said a U.S. federal prosecutor.

Nigerian Authorities Alerted

Although no formal extradition has been announced, Nigerian law enforcement agencies have reportedly been notified, and international cooperation is underway to arrest the suspect.

Cybersecurity experts warn that such cases highlight the growing trend of Nigerian-based digital fraudsters targeting high-profile international events.

Background on BEC Scams

BEC scams involve tricking businesses or individuals into wiring money to fraudulent accounts by mimicking trusted emails or communications. The FBI has labeled BEC one of the costliest cybercrime threats globally, with billions lost each year.

The discovery of this scam, just months before Trump’s expected campaign activities in 2025, has raised concerns over digital security and the exploitation of political events for financial crime. Authorities continue to investigate the full extent of the scheme and pursue all involved.