Two Nigerians, Shodiya Babatunde and Jamui Ahmed, have been indicted by the United States for their alleged involvement in a fraudulent scheme that cost healthcare companies over $13 million.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota revealed that the duo orchestrated a complex email scam that targeted Minnesota-based healthcare firms and misdirected payments intended for Fairview Health into accounts they controlled.
According to a statement released on Thursday, Babatunde, 43, and Ahmed, 31, used a fake internet domain that mimicked Fairview Health’s official website. They also created bogus email accounts that appeared to belong to key Fairview Health executives, including the chief executive officer, the executive vice president and general counsel, and a business analyst.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, Andrew Luger, explained the extent of the scam, saying, “Babatunde and Ahmed targeted and deceived unsuspecting employees of several Minnesota-based healthcare firms into making payments to their bank accounts.”
He added that court documents show that the fraudulent activities spanned from October 2020 to 2024.
The scheme involved the use of “spoofed” emails and phishing tactics to gain access to sensitive information such as names, passwords, and payment accounts. Once they had obtained this information, Babatunde and Ahmed emailed several other Minnesota-based health insurance companies, presenting new bank account details into which payments intended for Fairview Health were to be wired.
Unknowingly to the healthcare companies, these new bank accounts were not linked to Fairview Health but were controlled by Babatunde, Ahmed, and their accomplices.
The statement noted, “In total, Babatunde and Ahmed fraudulently directed more than $13 million in payments intended for Fairview Health from Minnesota-based healthcare companies to accounts controlled by them and their co-conspirators.”
The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), uncovered the elaborate scheme, but both suspects have since fled justice.
“Babatunde and Ahmed have become fugitives from justice following the FBI’s probe,” Luger stated.
The indictment serves as a reminder of the increasing sophistication of online fraud schemes. By using fake email addresses that closely resembled those of Fairview Health executives, the suspects were able to deceive employees into diverting millions of dollars to their own accounts. The scheme highlights the importance of cybersecurity measures and vigilance against phishing attacks, especially in sectors handling significant financial transactions, such as healthcare.
The U.S. authorities are currently working with international law enforcement agencies to locate and apprehend Babatunde and Ahmed, who remain at large. They are both citizens and residents of Nigeria, making their extradition and prosecution more challenging.
Healthcare fraud is a significant issue in the United States, costing the industry billions of dollars each year. The U.S. government has vowed to crack down on such schemes, particularly those involving foreign actors. This case underscores the importance of cross-border collaboration in combating cybercrime and bringing perpetrators to justice.