JUST IN: FBI Arrests Two Nigerians for Creating ‘Fraud Bible’ to Steal $50 Million in U.S. COVID-19 Relief Scam

Two Nigerian nationals, Nosakhare Nobore and Solomon Aluko, have been arrested in the United States for masterminding an elaborate fraud scheme that stole $50 million from the U.S. government and its citizens. The pair, both residents of New Jersey, allegedly created a ‘Fraud Bible’—a detailed manual used to instruct others on how to commit various scams—forming the backbone of a network that operated across multiple American cities.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation apprehended the duo following a sweeping investigation that uncovered a four-year conspiracy to exploit federal COVID-19 relief programs. According to a four-count criminal indictment unsealed on Thursday by Acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Matthew Podolsky, the group conspired to steal as much as $80 million, though they succeeded in cashing out $50 million between 2021 and 2025.

Authorities say the suspects, which also include Jorge Gonzalez, Leonard Ujkic, Nicholas Pappas, and Shan Anand, used stolen identities to file false claims with the IRS, targeting programs like the Employee Retention Credit (ERC) and Qualified Sick Leave Wages (QSLW). Aiding their operation was a bank teller within a major U.S. bank, who helped the group open fraudulent accounts using fake or stolen identities. These accounts were then used to deposit counterfeit or illegitimately obtained Treasury checks.

The group also operated a Telegram channel named “2021 Fraud Bible,” where they reportedly shared fraud strategies and templates for others to replicate their schemes. Many of the stolen funds were intended as COVID-19 relief for struggling individuals and businesses.

“These defendants stole tens of millions of dollars in COVID-19 relief and other checks,” said Podolsky. “This Office will not tolerate the exploitation of programs designed to support the public in times of crisis.”

Once the checks were deposited, the funds were quickly withdrawn in cash or moved to other accounts under their control. Nobore, Aluko, and their co-conspirators now face severe penalties if convicted: up to 30 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, 20 years for money laundering, 10 years for defrauding the government, and a mandatory two-year sentence for aggravated identity theft.