Nigerian Con Man Gets 4 Years for $1.1M Email Scam

PHILADELPHIA – A Nigerian man is heading to prison for his role in a brazen $1.1 million business email compromise scheme.

Victor Uzor, 36, a Nigerian national, was sentenced to 48 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, and more than $1 million in restitution for his role in the scheme, according to the Department of Justice USAO.

Uzor pleaded guilty on January 2, 2024, to one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. The scheme involved another member of the conspiracy pretending to be a legitimate vendor and emailing a false invoice to the victim organization.

Uzor’s role in the offense was to open a series of bank accounts using the identity of real people who had no connection to the crime. Another conspirator arranged for the victims to send money to the accounts opened by Uzor. Uzor then quickly withdrew these funds and moved them to other accounts before the scam could be discovered.

In total, Uzor helped to steal approximately $1.1 million from the victim businesses and individuals, and unsuccessfully attempted to steal another $400,000. Among the scheme’s victims was a nonprofit provider of mental health care located in Doylestown, PA.

U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero slammed Uzor’s crimes, saying, “Victor Uzor victimized the people whose identities he stole to facilitate this scheme. Then he helped prey upon the primary targets of the business email compromise, including a nonprofit organization in Bucks County dedicated to providing behavioral health care for the underprivileged and underserved.”

The FBI worked alongside the DA’s office to bring Uzor to justice. “The FBI works each and everyday to dismantle fraud schemes that affect our citizens,” said Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Philadelphia.