FBI nabs six wanted fraudsters, recovers $17bn in global scam crackdown

The Director of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel, has announced the capture of six of the agency’s most-wanted fraudsters across four continents, alongside the seizure of about $17bn in a global crackdown on scam networks.

Patel disclosed the developments in separate posts on his official X account on Sunday, highlighting the FBI’s international efforts to track down fugitives and its campaign against scam centres under Operation Blackout.

According to the FBI director, the six fugitives had collectively spent more than 4,000 days evading arrest before their capture.

He added that fraud cases linked to individuals on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters list involved more than $2bn.

He said the suspects had believed that fleeing the United States and hiding abroad would put them beyond the reach of American law enforcement.

“They were wrong,” Patel wrote, adding that the FBI and its international partners would continue pursuing people accused of defrauding Americans, regardless of where they were hiding.

In a separate update on Operation Blackout, Patel said the campaign had resulted in the seizure of nearly $17bn, the arrest of hundreds of alleged scammers and the freeing of thousands of trafficked workers.

He added that more than 10,000 Americans had been warned before losing their money, helping to prevent an estimated $670m in financial losses.

“We’re not just investigating these criminal enterprises.

“We’re dismantling their networks, disrupting their finances, rescuing victims, and holding those responsible accountable,” he said.

Patel described the scam centres as criminal operations that exploit victims and target Americans through international fraud schemes.

He said the FBI would continue working with international partners to disrupt the networks and pursue those responsible.

“To every criminal organization targeting Americans: Justice will find you,” he added.

The wider operation has also involved raids on suspected scam centres, the disruption of online infrastructure used for fraud and efforts to identify people trafficked into working for criminal networks.

Based on Patel’s provision, here are the six names listed:

1. Manjit Singh Bedi

2. Elaine Agene Esco

3. Khalid Ahmed Satary

4. Herbert Leon Kimble

5. Sahid Abdullahi Ereg

6. Emylee Thai

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