FBI Arrests UK-Based Nigerian in $100,000 ‘Wicked’ Ticket Fraud Scheme

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested 47-year-old Ajibola Oduntan, a Nigerian national living in the United Kingdom with Irish citizenship, for allegedly masterminding a sophisticated ticket fraud scheme that defrauded Kentucky Performing Arts (KPA) of over $100,000. The fraud, which took place during the Broadway musical Wicked in late 2023, involved the illegal purchase and resale of at least 61 tickets using stolen U.S. credit card information.

Oduntan faces charges of wire fraud and conspiracy in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Prosecutors state that Oduntan acquired credit card details belonging to multiple U.S. citizens and used them to buy tickets from KPA, which he then resold on StubHub, a prominent online ticket resale platform.

The fraudulent activity came to light after credit card companies initiated chargebacks on behalf of their customers, resulting in substantial financial losses for Kentucky Performing Arts. The organization promptly alerted the FBI, providing detailed transaction records that included the names, email addresses, and IP information tied to the purchases.

Despite Oduntan’s use of VPNs to mask his location, investigators traced the flow of funds from StubHub through several PayPal accounts to Oduntan’s Revolut and Allied Irish Bank accounts in Ireland. Court filings revealed that nearly $350,000 was transferred from StubHub to PayPal accounts controlled by the suspect between January 2023 and July 2024.

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FBI Special Agent Daniel Heath uncovered multiple StubHub and PayPal accounts registered under emails connected to Oduntan. Intriguingly, the phone number listed on Oduntan’s U.S. visa application matched contact details linked to the fraudulent transactions, enabling authorities to secure an arrest warrant.

Oduntan was apprehended on U.S. soil in late August when he arrived in the country and subsequently pleaded not guilty. He remains in custody at the Grayson County Detention Center ahead of his scheduled trial, which is set to commence on November 10.

This case highlights emerging tactics in international cyber-related ticket fraud schemes and underscores the FBI’s commitment to pursuing cross-border financial crimes impacting local arts organizations.