Federal authorities announced the arrest of Nigerian tech prodigy Sapphire Egemasi, known online as the “Tech Queen,” in connection with a multimillion-dollar internet fraud and money laundering scheme.
Once hailed for her coding expertise and featured on professional platforms like LinkedIn and Devpost, Egemasi now faces the grim prospect of up to 20 years behind bars if convicted.
According to official court filings, Egemasi played a central role in a fraudulent operation that targeted the city of Kentucky between September 2021 and February 2023.
How Nigerian Tech Queen Sapphire Egemasi Redirected $1.3 Million
Working with accomplices, including Ghanaian national Samuel Kwadwo Osei, Egemasi allegedly built and managed fake government websites to harvest login credentials and redirect nearly $1.3 million in stolen funds.
Investigators say $965,000 was funneled into a PNC Bank account, while an additional $330,000 landed in a Bank of America account in mid-2022.
To mask her illicit activity, Egemasi reportedly posed as an intern at top global brands such as British Petroleum, H&M, and Zara, all while flaunting luxury purchases and designer fashion on social media.
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Egemasi, who had been living in Cambridge, UK, was apprehended in New York on April 10, 2025, before being transferred to Lexington, Kentucky, where she remains in custody.
Authorities believe she met her co-conspirators in Ghana and became the lead tech operator for the syndicate, coordinating cyber heists across Nigeria, the U.S., and the U.K.
This case is part of a growing wave of sophisticated cybercrime involving Nigerian youth, often referred to as “Yahoo Boys.”
These cybercriminals, once known for email scams, are now using advanced tech skills for large-scale fraud.
A 2024 BBC investigation exposed similar operations, including a devastating sextortion case where two Nigerian brothers, Samuel and Samson Ogoshi, were sentenced to over 17 years in a U.S. prison after their scam led to a teen’s suicide.
Dr. Tombari Sibe, cybersecurity expert at Digital Footprints Nigeria, emphasized the normalization of online fraud among young Nigerians, calling it a “bloodless crime” glamorized by wealth and digital success.
The U.S. Department of Justice is stepping up its efforts to dismantle such operations.
Earlier this year, they took down four domains used to host over 40,000 fake websites, working with agencies like Europol and London’s Metropolitan Police in a coordinated international sting.
Egemasi’s arrest has ignited a flurry of social media reactions. On X, users like Robo_1000 condemned the misuse of digital skills, while KeansoLala warned followers against being misled by online influencers who glorify illegal wealth.
As global cybercrime grows more advanced, this case underscores the urgent need for ethical tech education, tighter regulation of online platforms, and stronger international partnerships to tackle digital fraud.