The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has filed a new case against alleged internet fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi, requesting his arrest warrant for carrying another cyber heist in jail.
FBI filed the new case against Hushpuppi over conspiracy to engage in money laundering of more than $400,000 while being imprisoned in the U.S.
The new evidence was submitted to the United States District Court of California on March 16th, 2022, in a document stating that Hushpuppi allegedly engaged in the acquisition and washing of Economic Impact Payment debit cards obtained unlawfully from stolen data of US individuals and residents.
According to the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the US government provides financial assistance to U.S. citizens who relocate abroad. Debit cards are a method of receiving Economic Impact Payments for qualifying US residents.
To file for and get Economic Impact Payments debit cards, hackers used data from documents produced in court. These EIP cards are sold to other cybercriminals in underground marketplaces.