US authorities have arrested five suspects, including a Nigerian, accused of defrauding thousands in Germany of over €300 million through an elaborate global fraud network.
Five fugitives, including a Nigerian, have been arrested in California for their alleged involvement in a massive international fraud scheme that defrauded thousands of victims in Germany of more than €300 million.
The suspects Medhat Mourid, Andrew Garroni, Guy Mizrachi, Ardeshir Akhavan, and Tunde Benak were detained by the U.S. Marshals Service and appeared in federal court on Wednesday. The arrests were made at the request of the German government, which is now seeking their extradition.
German authorities said the group operated a “sophisticated scheme” involving recurring fraudulent debit and credit card charges disguised as legitimate payments to fake merchants. The transactions, typically under €50, were designed to avoid detection.
Investigators also uncovered fake websites and alleged collaboration with German payment service processors, including executives and compliance officers, creating a “shadow financial system.”
The DOJ said its Office of International Affairs coordinated the arrests with German officials, coinciding with related operations across Europe, North America, and Asia.