Nigerian Instagram scamster Ramoni Igbalode popularly called Hushpuppi has been handed over to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the US, Dubai Police said on Thursday.
According to a statement, Christopher Wray, Director of FBI, praised the role of Dubai Police in arresting Raymond Abbas (Hushpuppi) and Olalekan Jacob Ponle aka Woodbery, and handing them over to the US.
“Director of FBI expressed his thanks for the exceptional efforts (of Dubai Police) in fighting organised cyber crimes and arresting Hushpuppi and Woodbery,” Dubai Police said in the statement.
According to Dubai Police, Hushpuppi and Woodbery, wanted for a series of crimes like money-laundering, fraud, hacking of websites and accounts, impersonation, banking fraud etc.
Hushpuppi and Woodbery were arrested with 10 other suspects on allegations of fraud, involving huge money.
Hushpuppi often posted pictures on Instagram with his luxury cars and private jet.
Last month, Dubai Police said that the operation called “Fox Hunt 2”, revealed a hidden online fraud network that was committing crimes outside the UAE, including money-laundering, cyber fraud, hacking, criminal impersonating, scamming individuals, banking fraud and identity theft.
Police said the raid resulted in seizure of incriminating documents pertaining to a well-planned international fraud worth Dh1.6 billion.
According to Dubai Police, the gang used to hack corporate emails and send fake emails to corporate customers to change money transfers to the gang’s personal banking accounts.