The FBI has arrested a woman named Sapphire Egemasi, known as the 'tech queen', in the Bronx, New York, for her alleged involvement in a sophisticated fraud scheme targeting various US government agencies. The scheme is believed to have occurred between September 2021 and February 2023.
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Egemasi is accused of being part of a syndicate led by a Ghanaian national, Samuel Kwadwo Osei. Their operation involved creating spoof websites that impersonated official US government domains to steal login credentials and facilitate the transfer of illegally obtained funds. She is believed to have played a key role as the tech lead, designing these fake websites and overseeing the financial transactions.
The group is charged with multiple counts of internet fraud and money laundering. One of their most significant targets was the city of Kentucky, from which they are accused of stealing millions of dollars. In one instance, they reportedly transferred $965,000 to a PNC Bank account in August 2022, while in another, $330,000 was moved to a Bank of America account.
To maintain her cover, Egemasi had presented herself online with a refined profile, including internships at top companies like British Petroleum, H&M, and Zara on LinkedIn. She also flaunted a luxurious lifestyle on social media, with photos from extravagant vacations in Greece and Portugal, which the authorities suspect were funded by the proceeds of their crimes.
Her arrest is part of a larger effort by the FBI to combat cybercrime and transnational fraud that exploits government systems and financial institutions. The case underscores the growing sophistication of such schemes and the importance of vigilance in protecting sensitive information and public funds.
FBI