Nigerian Scammer Attempts to Defraud Trump's Inauguration Fund, Busted by FBI
Lagos, Nigeria – The audacity of some scammers knows no bounds. In a shocking case of attempted fraud, a Nigerian man from Lagos is currently being pursued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for allegedly attempting to defraud the 2025 inauguration fund of President Donald Trump. This incident highlights the reckless lengths some individuals will go to for illicit gains, seemingly without regard for the severe repercussions or the damage to Nigeria's international image.
The elaborate scheme unfolded as preparations for Trump's upcoming inauguration were in full swing, with donations pouring in from across the United States. While the world focused on policy changes and inaugural plans, a Lagos-based individual was reportedly eyeing the incoming donations with a sinister intent.
The Deceptive Domain and Fake Requests
The scammer, identified as I.A., noticed the official domain for Trump's inauguration fundraising: https://www.google.com/search?q=t47inaugura.com. In a cunning move, he created a nearly identical, fraudulent domain: https://www.google.com/search?q=t47inaugural.com, subtly swapping the letter 'i' for a lowercase 'l' to deceive unsuspecting donors.
Using this fake domain, I.A. and his team allegedly sent out a barrage of fraudulent donation requests via email, impersonating Steve Wood, the co-chair of the inaugural committee. These emails solicited funds to support Trump's "big day," mimicking the legitimate bulk email campaigns sent by the actual committee.
The Heist and Rapid Dispersal
On December 26, 2024, a significant amount was wired in response to one of these fake requests: 250,300 USDT (Tether), equivalent to approximately $250,000 USD or ₦460 million. The funds landed in a cryptocurrency wallet under the control of the scammers. Within just two hours of receiving the donation, the illicit funds were rapidly scattered across multiple wallets.
One of these wallets was a Binance account registered under I.A.'s name, created in October 2024 with no prior transaction history. This immediate dispersal and the use of an account linked to his identity proved to be a critical misstep.
FBI's Swift Action and Recovery
Upon discovering the fraud, the legitimate inaugural committee promptly reported the incident to the FBI. Leveraging advanced blockchain analysis, the FBI began tracking the stolen cryptocurrency. Their investigation traced the funds to a Binance account, prompting them to contact the cryptocurrency exchange for information.
Binance, known for its strict Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, provided the FBI with I.A.'s complete details, including his name, address, and identification documents. This critical information confirmed that the Binance account, which had been previously inactive, was directly linked to the stolen funds.
Binance, known for its strict Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, provided the FBI with I.A.'s complete details, including his name, address, and identification documents. This critical information confirmed that the Binance account, which had been previously inactive, was directly linked to the stolen funds.
Further investigation by the FBI involved examining email data from the fake domain. Metadata, login activities, and IP addresses conclusively confirmed that the fraudulent domain was controlled from Lagos, Nigeria. The strong correlation between the stolen funds, the scam emails, and the Binance account solidified the link to I.A.
With the scammer's identity confirmed, the FBI swiftly requested that all platforms holding the stolen USDT freeze the associated wallets. By December 31, 2024, the frozen funds began to be recovered. To date, approximately 20,700 USDT has been recovered from I.A.'s Binance account, and additional amounts from other wallets, bringing the total recovered to over 40,000 USDT – approximately ₦60 million.
However, a significant portion, around $210,000 USD, remains unrecovered.
Consequences and the Hunt for I.A.
The US authorities have filed a civil forfeiture action to permanently seize the recovered funds. More critically, an active arrest warrant has been issued for I.A. He faces severe charges including wire fraud, money laundering, and business email compromise. If apprehended, he could face substantial prison sentences.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the global reach of cybercrime and the serious consequences that await those who engage in such illicit activities. It also underscores the importance of verifying domain names and email authenticity to avoid falling victim to sophisticated scams.
The pursuit of I.A. continues, emphasizing that while the allure of quick money may be strong, the path of criminality ultimately leads to capture and severe penalties.
