2 Nigerians named among 10 wanted fraudsters in the UK

Two Nigerians are among 10 wanted fraudsters in the United Kingdom, according to a list published on Tuesday by City of London Police and the National Crime Agency.

The 10 wanted fraudsters were linked to over £20 million worth of fraudulent acts in the UK and abroad.

Forty-one-year-old Bayo Lawrence Anoworin is wanted by Lincolnshire Police in connection with fraud offences and money laundering.

Anoworin was alleged to have been part of an organised crime group that defrauded a number of NHS Trusts in the UK and Guernsey.

The scam reportedly earned them a total of £12m and they laundered the money between January 1, 2011 and July 31, 2012. Anoworin was arrested in November 2012, but he disappeared into thin air after being granted bail.

Alexia Thomas, a 43-year-old female, allegedly “supplied false immigration documents to people wanting to become British citizens”.

According to the publication, Thomas, who operated online, claimed to be a professor and sold documents for around £300 each.

Her false identities include Elizabeth or Lizzy with the surnames Henz, Ikuwe-Henz, Iheyen, Ikue-Henz, Ihenyue, Ikwue, Herz and Ihenyen.

Thomas has also used the following names: Professor Thomas, Professor Summers, Martha Peterson and Alexia Bridget.

Donald Toon, director of the NCA’s economic crime command, said the UK loses “more than £190bn annually” from fraud.

“Behind this headline figure lies the actions of criminals like the wanted fraudsters highlighted in this appeal, who have caused distress and loss to people and businesses up and down the country,” he said.

“Law enforcement cannot tackle this problem alone. It is only by working together, individuals, law enforcement, government and the private sector that we can protect the UK against fraud.

“It is important that anyone able to provide information on the 10 fraudsters we are highlighting today takes the opportunity to pass that information to law enforcement to help bring them to justice.”

The list also includes a Pakistani, Romanian, and an Indian, while the others are of British descent.