KEY POINTS

• Nigerian man indicted in university fraud scheme.

• FBI says email compromise remains a costly threat.

• Adepoju faces wire fraud and computer fraud charges.

A Nigerian man living in the United Kingdom has been indicted in the United States on allegations of wire fraud and computer fraud after authorities said he orchestrated a $235,000 email compromise scheme targeting a Pennsylvania university.

Nigerian man indicted in university fraud

British authorities arrested Farouk Adekunle Adepoju on September 15, 2025, following a request from the U.S. government.

The Justice Department stated that Adepoju awaits extradition to Pennsylvania’s Western District, where a seven-count indictment was unsealed on Thursday. Prosecutors allege he hacked the email system of a Pennsylvania construction company contracted to handle a university project.

Between March and April 2023, he allegedly changed email rules, created a spoofed domain, and sent fraudulent payment instructions.

The university, misled by altered messages, updated the company’s payment details and transferred $235,266 into an account Adepoju controlled. The money has not been recovered.

Acting U.S. Attorney Troy Rivetti said Adepoju used “sophisticated cyber means” to infiltrate accounts belonging to the construction company, exploiting the trust between institutions. Rivetti added that the case showed the FBI’s ability to pursue cybercriminals across borders.

FBI says case highlights cyber risks

Accoridng to Punch, FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Kevin Rojek said email compromise schemes continue to be one of the most damaging threats to universities, businesses, and organizations. He warned that such crimes are far from harmless, as they drain resources and disrupt operations.

“We will find you and bring you to justice, no matter where you might be,” Rojek said.

Adepoju faces six counts of wire fraud and one count of computer fraud. Each wire fraud charge carries up to 20 years in prison, while the computer fraud charge has a maximum of five years.

The FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office led the investigation, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark V. Gurzo prosecuting the case alongside the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs.

Authorities stressed that an indictment is an allegation and that Adepoju remains presumed innocent until proven guilty.