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Nigerian influencer is arrested amid claims of £350million cyberscam


Nigerian influencer with 2.4 million Instagram followers who posted pictures of private jets and luxury watches is arrested in Dubai amid claims of a £350million cyberscam


  • FBI stormed the apartment of 38-year-old Raymond Abbas in Dubai as he slept
  • Investigators have said that the Instagram star had portrayed a billionaire lifestyle in order to ‘lure victims from all over the world’
  • Mr Abbas is also accused of committing fraud in Europe, America and Nigeria
A Nigerian influencer who posted photos of his life of luxury on private jets has been arrested amid claims of a £350million cyberscam.
The FBI seized more than £30million in cash when they stormed the apartment of 38-year-old Raymond Abbas in Dubai when he was sleeping.
Investigators say the Instagram star portrayed a billionaire lifestyle in order to ‘lure victims from all over the world’.
Twelve other people were arrested in raids for their alleged involvement in the cyberscam.
It is believed that investigators found email addresses of two million victims on several phones and computers seized during the operation.
During the raid luxury cars were seized as well as suitcases full of cash.
‘The suspects targeted victims overseas by creating fake websites for well known companies and banks in a bid to steal victims’ credit card information and then launder the stolen money,’ Brigadier Jamal al-Jalaf, of Dubai Police CID, told The Times.
Mr Abbas — who goes by the name Hushpuppi to his fans — is also accused of committing fraud in Europe, America and Nigeria, police said.
The raid happened two months after investigations into the gang began. Detectives used social media to help track their locations.
Mr Abbas started out as a secondhand-clothes trader in Lagos before claiming to be a billionaire property developer in Dubai.
He says he posts about his luxury life to inspire others to make more of their lives.
‘I post a few of these things so that someone can see my page someday and decide not to give up,’ he once told his 2.4 million followers on Instagram.
A video was uploaded by Dubai police of Mr Abbas looking startled and in handcuffs after his arrest on June 10.
Local media reports that the FBI will push to extradite Mr Abbas to America as many of the alleged victims were US citizens.
Mr Abbas has not yet commented on the allegations.

Originally published at https://www.dailymail.co.uk 

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