Akinade Adedeji Raheem, Stolen Identity Tax Refund Fraud, Georgia 2026

A Georgia man and a Nigerian national have been charged in a massive tax refund scheme that bilked the IRS out of over $100 million. Akinade Adedeji Raheem, 43, of Atlanta, Georgia, and Abayomi Quadri Eletu, 42, of the United Kingdom and Nigeria, were indicted in the Northern District of Georgia and the Western District of Texas for their alleged roles in the scheme.

According to the indictment, Raheem and Eletu conspired to claim fraudulent tax refunds using the stolen identities of accountants and taxpayers. Between 2018 and 2023, the co-conspirators allegedly filed more than 300 false tax returns, claiming over $100 million in refunds from the IRS. The scheme involved obtaining identifying information for tax professionals and taxpayers, including their names, addresses, and Social Security numbers, by creating online accounts with the IRS and requesting private taxpayer information.

The indictment alleges that Eletu and Raheem changed the addresses of taxpayers to an address controlled by the co-conspirators, so the IRS would correspond with them instead of the actual taxpayers. This allowed the co-conspirators to intercept the tax refunds and use the stolen identities to claim them.

Raheem and Eletu are charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and other crimes. The indictment was unsealed on April 15, 2026, and the status of the case is currently pending.

The IRS has been working to combat tax refund schemes like this one, which have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years. The agency has implemented various measures to prevent and detect these types of crimes, including enhanced security protocols and increased scrutiny of tax returns.

The case is a reminder of the importance of protecting personal identifying information and being vigilant when it comes to tax-related scams. Taxpayers are advised to be cautious of unsolicited emails, phone calls, or letters from the IRS, and to report any suspicious activity to the agency immediately.

Source: Department of Justice

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