Nigerian scam artist pulls off $1 million ‘mega-scam’ from prison

Authorities are trying to find out how a man who was already convicted and serving time in Lagos was able to continue his fraudulent business

Blue Telusma

Nov 21, 2019

Authorities have launched an investigation into a convicted Nigerian scam artist who allegedly plotted what is described as a “mega scam” while living behind bars at a maximum-security prison.

According to the BBC, Hope Olusegun Aroke is currently serving a 24-month prison sentence, yet he was able to pull off the scam worth at least $1 million thanks to a “network of accomplices,” who aided him in continuing to commit fraud.

A preliminary investigation conducted by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), discovered that Aroke was able to “continue to ply his ignoble trade” from inside the Lagos prison because he still had access to the internet and his cellphone.

The EFCC said that at the time of his 2012 arrest, Aroke was the “arrowhead of an intricate web of internet fraud schemes that traverse two continents,” even after he was taken in by authorities.

Once when he was admitted to the Nigeria Police Hospital, the scammer was even able to “leave the facility to stay in hotels, meet with his wife and children, and attend social functions.”

Authorities added that the inmate had also been “in possession of his wife’s bank account token in prison, which he used to freely transfer funds” and used a fictitious name to open two bank accounts, buy a luxury car and purchase a couple of homes during his time in prison.

After this story made headlines several locals have inquired how a convict serving time at the country’s foremost maximum security prison could have found a way to move so freely without detection.

Although there has been speculation that Aroke’s exploits have been aided by corrupt prison officials, no-one has yet been suspended or even identified for taking part as co-conspirators.