$200,000 ‘Money Scam’ in Las Vegas: 26-year-old Nigerian Oselu Okukpujie and Liberian arrested for trying to exchange fake money for US currency

‘Nigerian Black Money Scam’ in Las Vegas: 26-year-old Nigerian Oselu Okukpujie and Liberian arrested for trying to exchange fake money for US$200,000

Special to USAfricaonline.com and Nigeria360 e-group

Las Vegas Metro police have arrested two men they said were linked to the infamous “Nigerian Black Money Scam” that e-mail users are often warned to avoid.

Police said an undercover detective met with 26-year-old Fidelis Oselu Okukpujie and 23-year-old Harrison Doe at an unnamed hotel.

The detective said the men were attempting to exchange “black money” for $200,000 in U.S. currency.

The scam involves e-mailing a person to let them know they have inherited a substantial amount of money in Nigeria. Victims are told the money is dyed black to avoid detection in customs and they have to pay to have it washed.

Authorities said the “black money” is often just black pieces of paper, but victims don’t know until it’s too late.

Okukpujie, according to Metro, is originally from Nigeria and lives in Phoenix, while Doe

was born in Liberia but is a resident of Coon Rapids, Minneapolis.

Both are charged with attempting to obtain money under false pretenses and conspiracy. They are being held in the Clark County Detention Center. ref: KVVU, Las Vegas.