Nigerian gang busted for Hollywood scam in Türkiye
Turkish police during an operation. (Photo via Anadolu Agency)
A Nigerian-led criminal gang, accused of impersonating famous Hollywood actors and collecting funds under the guise of film production companies, has been dismantled by Turkish authorities.
The gang reportedly swindled approximately ₺28 million ($834,386) from unsuspecting victims.
High-profile actors used in elaborate scam
The gang exploited fake social media accounts of renowned Hollywood actors, including Keanu Reeves, Gerard Butler, and Colin Firth, to solicit funds for non-existent film projects.
According to an indictment submitted to the prosecutor’s office, the group was involved in 39 separate fraud cases, resulting in significant financial losses across multiple currencies.
Investigation led by Türkiye’s financial crimes unit
The gang’s activities were uncovered by Türkiye’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) following a tip-off.
The whistleblower, provided bank account numbers linked to the fraudulent transactions. He claimed that the account holders were primarily Nigerian nationals involved in scamming individuals living abroad.
In response, authorities launched a coordinated operation on September 22, 2023, leading to the arrest of key suspects, including Sinem Ibe, Frankline Christ Ibe, Ugochukwu David Ezeorah, Muhabbat Jumamyradova, Maral Abayeva and İrfan İlhanli.
Leadership ties to Nigeria and Türkiye
The investigation revealed that the gang was led by Nigerian national Frankline Christ Ibe, with his Turkish wife, Sinem Ibe, acting as a key organizer. The gang was implicated in 39 fraudulent activities, accumulating a substantial amount of money through these schemes.
The illicit gains were reported as ₺11.5 million, $325,000, 133,000 euros, 5,745 British pounds and 38,000 Danish kroner.
Victim testimonies: Hollywood names used to lure funds
One of the victims, Cynthia Howar, recounted how she was contacted via an email purportedly from Gerard Butler. The email convinced her to send money for a supposed film production project. Over two-and-a-half years, she transferred a total of $440,000 in bitcoin to the fraudsters.
Howar also revealed that similar tactics were used under the names of actors Keanu Reeves and Colin Firth, though she did not fall for those subsequent scams.
