FBI Busts Nigerian 'Tech Queen' in Multi-Million Dollar Cybercrime Ring

FBI Arrests Nigerian 'Tech Queen' for Multi-Million Dollar Fraud A 29-year-old Nigerian programmer, Sapphire Egemasi, known online as the "Tech Queen," was arrested by the FBI on April 10, 2025, in the Bronx, New York. Egemasi is accused of being a key player in a cybercrime syndicate that defrauded the city of Kentucky out of millions of dollars. The scheme, which operated from September 2021 to February 2023, involved creating fake websites that mimicked official US government domains to steal login credentials and siphon funds. Text message records show that in August 2022, the syndicate redirected $965,000 to a PNC Bank account and $330,000 to a Bank of America account. Egemasi cultivated a lavish online persona, showcasing a luxurious lifestyle on social media, which investigators believe was funded by the stolen money. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. "This case highlights the global reach of cybercrime and the importance of staying vigilant online," said an FBI spokesperson, who wished to remain anonymous. The FBI continues its investigation into this transnational fraud network.