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| Hushpuppi ready to board a private jet. |
ABBAS commonly called Ray HushPuppi is a Nigeria currently imprisoned in the United states of America for Cyber Crimes beyond control. He was captured in Dubai by the police and sent to US for stealing US funds allocated for US citizens during the harsh covid19 period to help her citizens.
Inmates in correctional facilities in US are allowed certain activities which include access phone calls, computers and internet connection use with limitations. In this affidavit, the cyber crime analyst counts down ABBAS's activities.
He said, Inmates also have constitutional right and the calls or internet activities are not recorded except when necessary and a warrant is obtained for the purpose. Abbas was also given this opportunity like other inmates.
Between 28th Jan and 4th March 2022, Security officers at Federal correctional facility in California observed more frequent usage of internet by Abbas. With the knowledge that Abass committed which he is being charged for are all related to internet crimes, security officers were concerned and informed the Federal Bureau of Investigation- FBI.
On the 7th March 2022, they obtained a federal search warrant issued by central district of California to monitor and record Abbas internet activities. Dedicated computers were setup for Abbas meaning that each time he request for internet, he should be given that same computer.
From 7th March to 13th March, 2022 they monitored and ordered Abbas internet activities. In this period, he requested internet access daily, spending an average of 55 mins per session. During this period it was found out that Abbas was actively buying Economic Impact Payment debit cards for Bitcoins.
The officer found out that Abbas uses underground cyber criminal marketplace called StimulusCard which is a marketplace for hackers to sell Economic Impact Payments debit cards for bitcoin. On the site, they list different Econs Impact Payment cards for with different balances. They range from $1,400 to $8000. These cards were applied for by hackers using compromised and stolen data of US residents and citizens.
It was found out that criminals can order a virtual option of Economic Impact Payments debit cards and receive it instantly and can even order for plastic option. For the period Abbas was recorded, he purchased a total of 58 Economic debit cards with at total value of $429,800 approximately 260 million FCFA.
Of the 58 EIP debit cards, Abbas choosed the virtual option for 36 cards and he selected only 22 for the printed format. Abbas was in constant communication with a certain AJ. He give AJ options on what to buy online and what to do with the purchased Item. He also give instructions on case withdrawal from ATMs with the plastic cards.
Here is one of the communication with AJ;
Abbas: Guy hw fr? You don receive the 5 new EIP cards?
AJ: "yes bro"
Abbas: "Pull out all the funds today"
AJ "I am on it already, done 2 already".
Abbas: Nice one. What about the online purchase yesterday? I say make u focus on iphone 13 and PS5 those ones dey very easy for resell
AJ: Yes i finished that last night. Emptied the cards on Amazon. Iphones and PS5, I already received the 6 MACBOOK Air and 3 ipad Pro I ordered 3 days ago.
My guys came pick them up this morning"
ABBAS "Aiit, I go send you more EIP cards today.
After this conversation, Abbas went to buy more EIP cards for the purchase and laundering of Economic Impact Payments debit cards. I can assume it runs in millions of US dollars because of 7 days we recorded him, he bought and laundered Economic Impact Cards worth $429,800.
The officer ended that they are working to unmask the ID of AJ his accomplice and the underground cyber criminal marketplace "stimuluscards.com".
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