A high-profile internet fraud case has emerged in the United States, implicating a Nigerian tech enthusiast accused of masterminding cyberattacks on U.S. government systems. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently arrested Sapphire Egemasi, known online as the “tech queen,” in connection with a syndicate that defrauded multiple agencies out of millions of dollars.
The arrest, which occurred around April 10, 2025, in the Bronx, New York, followed a 2024 grand jury indictment. Egemasi and others, including alleged ringleader Samuel Kwadwo Osei, face multiple charges of wire fraud and money laundering for offences committed between September 2021 and February 2023.
Authorities allege that Egemasi acted as the group’s technical architect, building fake websites that mirrored legitimate U.S. government portals to steal login credentials and facilitate illegal wire transfers. At least $965,000 was diverted from Kentucky to a PNC Bank account in one transaction, with another $330,000 sent to Bank of America.
Before her arrest, Egemasi was based in Cambridge, UK, and is believed to have lived in Ghana, where she likely forged ties with her co-conspirators. Prosecutors say she tried to cover her tracks by posing as an intern at multinational companies like BP, H&M, and Zara, while flaunting a luxury lifestyle on LinkedIn and social media.
Currently detained in Lexington, Kentucky, Egemasi and her co-defendants face up to 20 years in prison, major financial penalties, and eventual deportation if found guilty.
