Nigerian scammer sentenced for defrauding American homebuyer in SA

A Nigerian scammer has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for theft after defrauding an American homebuyer of over R3.2 million in South Africa.

Abdul Olatunji Samson appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court sitting in Palm Ridge on Wednesday, where the sentence was handed down.

Samson was sentenced to an additional 10 years for money laundering.

FBI and Secret Service

At the time of his arrest for this transnational fraud case, Samson was already serving 12 years for fraud in an unrelated matter.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said the charges stemmed from a cyber-enabled fraud reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which subsequently involved the United States Secret Service (USSS).

“The USSS then collaborated with South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI). The lead investigator, Colonel Oscar Mopedi, uncovered that the victim’s email correspondence with their conveyancing attorney had been intercepted during a house purchase transaction.”

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Manipulation

The Nigerian fraudster manipulated the communication by substituting the attorney’s legitimate banking details with those linked to a fraudulent Bank of America account.

Mjonondwane said the victim unknowingly transferred over $200,000 (approximately R3.2 million), which was later funnelled into various South African bank accounts.

“The accused personally benefited to the tune of R1.9 million from the stolen funds.”

In aggravation of sentence, Senior State Advocate Ronel Dookun argued that these crimes are complex to detect, investigate, and prosecute, often involving sophisticated networks and high-level planning.

Sentence

Dookun argued that sentences must reflect the serious impact these crimes have, especially when committed purely for self-enrichment. 

The court stressed the economic harm caused by such transnational crimes, particularly considering South Africa’s greylisting, which damages the country’s international financial reputation and suggests it may be a haven for criminal proceeds. 

Mjonondwane said the NPA welcomes the sentence.

“The NPA emphasises that internationally, complex corruption and fraud cases can take an average of eight years to finalise due to their intricate nature. Within South Africa’s adversarial legal system, guilty pleas in such cases remain uncommon, contributing to prolonged litigation timelines,” Mjonondwane said.  

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