Nigerian Yahoo-Boy jailed in the UK for fraud

isaac dachen

September 13, 2017 11:10 AM

A Nigerian Internet fraudster has been sentenced to a jail term of two years and four months by a court in the United Kingdom.

A Nigerian man, Alexander Akinyele, said to be a notorious Internet fraudster popularly called Yahoo-Boy, has been found guilty and sentenced to jail for two years and four months by a Preston Crown Court in the United Kingdom.

Mail Online reports that the 37-year-old Akinleye had pleaded guilty to 10 fraud offences bordering on a Computer Misuse Act Offence and possession of a false ID with intent to commit a crime.

The fraudster was caught after he allegedly threw a wallet full of bogus credit cards out of his window when NCA officers arrived to arrest him at his house on Doncaster Place, Barrow-in-Furness.

ALSO READ: "Love Scam: 2 Nigerian women convicted in the UK for defrauding 7 men"

Mail reports that when NCA officers arrived at Akinyele’s home in August 2016 after he had been monitored for months, he threw a wallet containing eight fraudulent credit and store cards and a forged driving license out of a window.

Subsequent NCA investigations revealed he was in possession of 500 valid usernames and passwords for online Sky accounts and the same number of BT accounts which he had bought on the internet.

During a search of Akinyele’s house, NCA officers found he had also stolen several peoples’ personal details, including those of a 74-year-old man, in order to set up bank and credit card accounts and to buy access to Netflix and Argos.

While sentencing him, Judge Heather Lloyd described Akinyele’s criminal activity as 'a persistent and serious offence.'

NCA officer Andrew Shorrock had earlier told the court:

“Akinyele used other people’s identities for financial gain, including that of a 74-year-old man. When Akinyele finally had to accept responsibility himself, he resorted to really quite desperate measures, throwing evidence out of the window.

ALSO READ: "Bad Eggs: 3 Nigerian fraudsters arrested over $500k credit card scam in the U.S"

The effect of ID fraud on victims who are often the most vulnerable in our society can last for a long time. But there are simple steps you can take to reduce your chances of being a victim."

Akinyele is not the first Nigerian to be jailed in the UK over fraud cases including credit card fraud, love scams and other sundry crimes, further denting the image of the country.

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