BCC Student from Nigeria Admits Online Scamming

A former SUNY Broome Community College student from Nigeria is admitting he participated in a wire fraud scheme that sent thousands of dollars overseas.

18 year old Oladipupo Kupoluyi pleaded guilty in federal court earlier this month to conspiracy to commit bank fraud, mail fraud and wire fraud for wiring illegally obtained funds from two Binghamton-area banks to a bank in Nigeria.

Prosecutors say there were a number of people involved in the fraud schemes that happened between June of last year and this past May.

Part of the operation included one of the actors contacting a 65 year old Michigan woman through Facebook and convincing her to send money as they posed as a representative of the military stationed in Nigeria.

Another participant contacted the same woman, claiming to be a U.S. Customs Agent, getting her to give out personal information including her Social Security number on the pretense that she would get a check and jewels if she covered customs fees.

In all, over $100,000 was wired from a half dozen bank accounts opened in the woman’s name.

Authorities say while participating in the scheme, the BCC student, in the country on a student visa, went under the name “Rick Bauer” and accepted money orders at his Clarke Street, Binghamton address.