Kansas Attorney General Recovers Digital Wallet from Nigerian Scammer to Compensate Crypto Fraud Victim

In a significant victory against international cybercrime, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced the successful recovery of a digital wallet linked to a Nigerian scammer, aimed at returning funds to a Kansas resident who fell victim to a cryptocurrency investment fraud.

This case represents one of the first successful civil actions taken by the state against an international internet fraudster. The victim, a Kansas resident, filed a complaint with the Attorney General's office after being lured into a scam that promised substantial returns on a cryptocurrency investment.

Investigations revealed that the perpetrator, Bimbo Toyin Akinyemi from Nigeria, had deceived the victim into investing in a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme. In response, General Kobach’s Charities and Financial Scams unit initiated legal proceedings against Akinyemi under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act.

Despite being served with legal documents, Akinyemi did not respond, leading the district court to issue an order for full restitution and impose penalties. This ruling enabled the Attorney General's office to seize Akinyemi's digital wallet, which contained half a Bitcoin valued at over $28,900, along with additional digital currencies worth more than $4,000.

"Cryptocurrency is a borderless asset that allows international scammers to target and defraud Kansans from the comfort of a keyboard," stated First Assistant Attorney General Nathanial Castillo. He emphasized the importance of vigilance, advising Kansans to thoroughly investigate anyone they encounter online before sending cryptocurrency payments.

The U.S. Department of Justice and the FBI played a crucial role in assisting the Attorney General's office throughout the investigation, highlighting the collaborative effort to combat cyber fraud on a national scale.