Nigerian Couple Accused of $500,000 Credit Card Fraud in US Face Up to 50 Years in Prison

A Nigerian man and his wife are facing serious federal charges in the United States after being accused of running a sophisticated credit card fraud scheme that allegedly defrauded victims of more than $500,000.

Opeyemi Olujobi, a Nigerian national resident in the U.S., and Jennie Davidson were arrested in Poughkeepsie and are due to appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in White Plains, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton.

Prosecutors allege the couple orchestrated a coordinated identity theft operation targeting over 200 credit card accounts through stolen personal data.

“From at least May 2023 through October 2024, Olujobi, Davidson, and/or their co-conspirators… used other people’s names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, phone numbers, and addresses to falsely identify themselves as the true accountholders,” Clayton said.

Authorities say the suspects then altered account details, redirecting cards to multiple addresses in Hopewell Junction, New York, including their residence, before reporting them as lost to obtain replacements.

Once the cards were delivered, they were allegedly used to make approximately $575,000 in unauthorised purchases, mainly involving gift cards and merchandise, with surveillance footage reportedly capturing the suspects in some transactions.

Prosecutors further claim the pair attempted to sustain the scheme by contacting financial institutions to approve declined transactions and increase credit limits.

Davidson is also accused of laundering part of the proceeds through an online betting platform before transferring funds into her personal account.

“Olujobi, 28, and Davidson, 29, are each charged with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and bank fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison… Davidson is also charged with money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison,” the statement added.

The defendants face a four-count federal indictment, though authorities stressed that the charges remain allegations and both are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Africans Angle News