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US Arrests Nigerian, Four Others Wanted in Germany Over €300m Fraud Scheme
US authorities have arrested a Nigerian and four others wanted in Germany over a €300 million fraud scheme involving fake merchants, fraudulent card charges, and international money transfers across multiple countries.
The United States has apprehended five fugitives — including a Nigerian national — accused of participating in a massive international fraud scheme that allegedly defrauded thousands of victims in Germany of more than €300 million.
According to officials, the arrests were made in California’s Central District at the request of the German government, which has initiated extradition proceedings. The U.S. Marshals Service carried out the arrests, and the suspects appeared before a federal court on Wednesday.
The five suspects were identified as Medhat Mourid of Woodland Hills, Andrew Garroni of Los Angeles, Guy Mizrachi of Agoura Hills, Ardeshir Akhavan of Irvine, and Tunde Benak, also from Irvine.
German investigators allege that the group orchestrated an elaborate financial scheme involving recurring fraudulent debit and credit card charges disguised as legitimate transactions to fictitious merchants. The fraudulent charges were typically kept below €50 to avoid detection by victims.
To reinforce the illusion, the network reportedly created fake websites accessible only through private links or unique URLs. Authorities say the fraudsters also collaborated with German payment service providers, including certain executives and compliance officers, to approve the bogus transactions.
Some of those complicit within these financial institutions have also been detained in Germany, where prosecutors described the network as having built a “shadow financial system” parallel to legitimate banking operations.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said its Office of International Affairs worked closely with German law enforcement to coordinate the arrests and meet all extradition requirements.
The crackdown formed part of a broader international operation, with related arrests and raids conducted across Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Cyprus, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Singapore.
The joint announcement was made by Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California, and U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces S. Serralta.
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