Nigerian Scammer Poses as Trump Ally to Steal $250K in Crypto

A Nigerian fraudster impersonated real estate mogul Steve Witkoff—co-chair of the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee and long-time ally of former President Donald Trump—to defraud a political donor out of $250,000 in cryptocurrency, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Court records reveal that the scammer used a spoofed email closely resembling Witkoff’s official address to solicit a crypto donation. The victim transferred $250,000 worth of USDT.ETH to the scammer’s wallet. While the scammer attempted to launder the stolen funds, the FBI managed to trace and recover 40,300 USDT.ETH. Half of the recovered funds were located in a Binance account registered under the name Ehiremen Aigbokhan, a known fraudster based in Lagos and often referred to as a “yahoo boy.”

Authorities are now pursuing a formal arrest warrant for Aigbokhan. Over $210,000 in stolen crypto remains unrecovered, underscoring the challenges of tracking blockchain-based crimes. Binance and Tether reportedly cooperated with the investigation, aiding in the asset freeze.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro emphasized the importance of vigilance when sending cryptocurrency. “Donors must triple-check wallet addresses,” she warned, citing the irreversible nature of blockchain transactions. Despite the complexities of crypto-related fraud, Pirro assured the public that her office and law enforcement partners remain committed to pursuing cybercriminals and restoring stolen assets to victims.

Steve Witkoff and his son Zach are also linked to World Liberty Financial, a crypto initiative associated with the Trump family. This case highlights both the growing use of cryptocurrency in political fundraising and the increasing sophistication of crypto scams targeting high-profile individuals and donors.

The investigation reflects broader efforts by U.S. officials to crack down on international crypto fraud.