On July 7, 2022, in the District of Maryland, Victor Ojo, Raissa Kaossele, Jamelia Thompson, and Damilola Ojo, were charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and aggravated identity theft, using Employer Identification Numbers (EINs) obtained from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the scheme to defraud.

According to court the documents, the co-conspirators used stolen Personally Identifiable Information to create, or cause to be created, EINs through the IRS’s Modernized Internet Employer Identification Number (Mod IEIN) system. The Mod IEIN is the IRS’s system that allows users to register for a unique EIN, and requires the users to enter the valid name and Social Security Number of a real living person in order to obtain an EIN for a business. These EINs were used in conjunction with fraudulently obtained state business certificates to open bank accounts for the purpose of depositing stolen and/or altered checks or receiving fraudulently obtained wire transfers. The proceeds of the fraud were rapidly withdrawn and/or transferred to other bank accounts controlled by the co-conspirators.

The investigation identified more than $4 million in fraudulent bank transactions. The four individuals were arrested on July 13, 2022.

Source:  The facts in this case narrative come from the following publicly available document: D. MD, Complaint, filed July 7, 2022.