A Nigerian national, Habeeb Anibaba, has been apprehended in the United Kingdom for his alleged involvement in a romance scam that siphoned more than $1.3 million from the corporate account of the city of Norfolk. The scheme, which spanned nearly a year, involved over 900 fraudulent transactions, according to federal prosecutors and court documents.
Indictment and Arrest
A grand jury has indicted Anibaba, 29, on charges of bank fraud. Authorities tracked him down using his Nigerian Voter Card, leading to his arrest by UK law enforcement. Court records indicate that the United States is currently seeking his extradition.
How the Scheme Operated
The fraudulent operation involved at least six women, aged between 20 and 30, who were used to transfer funds from the city's account to various other accounts. Each woman told authorities a similar story: they met a man on a dating website who claimed he needed assistance transferring money, often stating he was living overseas. The transactions ranged from small amounts to as high as $20,000. Additionally, gift cards and cryptocurrency were utilized in the scheme.
City Response and Recovery
City of Norfolk leaders contacted the FBI after their bank alerted them to the missing funds. The city released a statement: "The City was made aware of fraudulent ACH Debits in 2020 and worked quickly with the bank, the City Treasurer and FBI, allowing for recovery of funds. The City has procedures and mechanisms in place to monitor and detect fraudulent activity." To further encourage reporting of fraud, the Norfolk City Council authorized a Fraud Hotline, accessible at (757) 664-4003 or through a confidential online form.
