Nigerian ‘Tech Queen’ Arrested In U.S Over $1.3M U.S.A Government Scam
Published on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 6:08 PM
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FBI Arrests Nigerian Programmer Over Sophisticated U.S. Agency Fraud
A Nigerian tech-savvy entrepreneur, Sapphire Egemasi—popularly known on social media as the “tech queen”—has been arrested by the FBI in connection with a $1.3 million fraud scheme targeting U.S. government institutions.
The arrest, which took place in the Bronx, New York, on April 10, 2025, follows an extensive investigation involving a web of co-conspirators, including Ghanaian national Samuel Kwadwo Osei, alleged to be the mastermind of the operation.
Spoof Websites, Hijacked Funds
According to federal prosecutors, the fraud ring carried out the elaborate scheme between September 2021 and February 2023, using deceptive websites designed to look like official U.S. government portals. These fake platforms were used to steal login credentials and redirect public funds to accounts controlled by the group.
Court documents allege Egemasi played a critical role as the operation’s tech lead, designing the fake sites and managing the illicit wire transfers. In one instance, nearly $965,000 was diverted into a PNC Bank account, while another $330,000 was funneled through Bank of America—all in August 2022.
Double Life Unraveled
Egemasi, whose professional Devpost and LinkedIn profiles showcased impressive credentials, was previously based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, and is believed to have operated out of Ghana for some time. On her LinkedIn, she claimed internships with British Petroleum, H&M, and Zara—efforts prosecutors say were part of a broader scheme to legitimize her online persona.
Her social media accounts painted a picture of luxury and success, featuring travel photos from destinations like Portugal and Greece. Authorities believe those trips were funded with money obtained from the fraudulent scheme.
Awaiting Federal Trial
Egemasi and her co-defendants are currently in federal custody and are set to stand trial in Lexington, Kentucky. If convicted, they face up to 20 years in prison, substantial fines, and eventual deportation.
