A Nigerian tech influencer is at the centre of a major US fraud case after being accused of helping a syndicate steal millions through f@ke government websites and money laundering schemes
- Sapphire Egemasi was arrested in New York in April 2025 for alleged wire fraud and money laundering.
- She’s accused of creating f@ke US government portals to steal login details and reroute public funds.
- Over $1.2m was reportedly diverted from Kentucky city accounts into private bank accounts.
- Egemasi allegedly masked her income by claiming internships with brands like BP and Zara.
- Known for posting luxury trips online, she now faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Egemasi’s story is a cautionary tale about image versus reality. Her Instagram life, jet-setting and branded success, masked what investigators now say was deep involvement in an international fraud ring. The betrayal stings more because of her image as a “woman in tech,” a role model to some. Her arrest adds fuel to ongoing conversations about performative wealth, online personas, and the line between ambition and deceptionAs the trial approaches, one question remains: how did a self-proclaimed “tech queen” end up here, and how deep does this fraud ring go?
Will her trial deter others, or just push fraudsters deeper underground?
