Last month, US authorities arrested a Nigerian socialite, 43-year-old Femi Quadri, for allegedly stealing the identities of approximately 91 American citizens to defraud them of their COVID-19 and disability benefits.
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He was apprehended at around 9:30 a.m. on September 20, just hours before he was set to depart on a one-way ticket to Dubai. US security agents believed he intended to evade capture by relocating to a destination beyond America’s crime radar.
A criminal complaint filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California on September 19 outlined Quadri’s alleged fraudulent scheme.
It detailed how he appropriated the personal identifying information (PII), including Social Security Numbers (SSNs), of around 91 Americans to collect their disability, unemployment, and COVID-19 benefits between 2020 and 2024.
The California Employment Development Department (EDD) issued debit cards to eligible unemployed and disabled citizens. Quadri submitted benefit applications using their names and forged certifications from real doctors, whose information he had also stolen.
The EDD sent loaded debit cards, allowing unlimited withdrawals, to claimants. Each card featured a sticker with activation instructions, requiring recipients to call a number and provide their SSN for activation.
The cards, valid for three years, were linked to Bank of America and funded by the EDD for beneficiaries, allowing for unlimited daily purchases and withdrawals.
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