Nigerian Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Prison for Running Phony Tax Refund Scam

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Nigerian National Sentenced to 8 Years for Cybercrime Scheme

A Nigerian national has been sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in a large-scale cybercrime scheme that targeted the US government.

The Scheme

The individual, 37-year-old Matthew Abiodun Akande, was part of a group that broke into the networks of tax preparation firms, stole sensitive client data, and filed fraudulent tax returns.

According to court records, Akande and his co-conspirators filed over 1,000 fake tax returns, claiming more than $8.1 million in refunds, between 2016 and 2021. The group successfully obtained over $1.3 million in fraudulent refunds during this period.

Akande’s Involvement

Akande’s involvement in the scheme included sending phishing emails to tax preparation firms in Massachusetts, designed to trick employees into divulging sensitive information. He also directed the transfer of stolen funds to third parties in Mexico.

Akande was arrested at Heathrow Airport in the UK in October 2024 and extradited to the US in March 2025. He pleaded guilty to 33 counts of conspiracy, wire fraud, unauthorized access to protected computers, theft of government money, and aggravated identity theft in April 2025.

Sentencing

As part of his sentencing, Akande was ordered to pay nearly $1.4 million in restitution. His lawyer had argued that Akande was not living an extravagant lifestyle in Mexico, despite his involvement in the scheme.

The Importance of Cybersecurity

The case highlights the ongoing threat of cybercrime and the importance of protecting sensitive information. The use of phishing emails and other tactics by Akande and his co-conspirators demonstrates the need for individuals and organizations to remain vigilant in the face of these types of threats.

Akande’s co-conspirators, including Kehinde Hussein Oyetunji, a Nigerian national living in North Dakota, and two unnamed individuals, were also involved in directing the fraudulent tax refunds to US bank accounts. The group’s activities were eventually uncovered, leading to Akande’s arrest and sentencing.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of cybersecurity and the need for individuals and organizations to take steps to protect themselves from these types of threats.