The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has apprehended a suspect linked to a romance fraud scheme involving over $597,000.During a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi provided details about the arrest.
He announced that the suspect is accused of defrauding an American woman out of $597,000 through an online romantic deception.
The suspect was taken into custody following a well-coordinated intelligence operation and is facing charges related to identity theft, computer fraud, and money laundering.
He reportedly impersonated an American individual under a fictitious name to exploit unsuspecting victims, mostly women, through online romance scams.Adejobi disclosed that multiple electronic devices used in these illicit activities were seized during a search of the suspect’s residence. Additionally, eight BMW vehicles, believed to be obtained from the fraudulent activities, have been taken into police custody as exhibits, with ongoing efforts to identify and locate additional victims.In another development, Adejobi stated that NPF-NCCC operatives had arrested two additional suspects involved in creating and distributing compromised financial accounts.
These accounts were allegedly used to facilitate fraudulent transactions exceeding N400 million.According to the police spokesman, investigations revealed that the suspects were recruited via Telegram by an unidentified foreign cybercriminal.
The first suspect was responsible for creating Moniepoint financial profiles using pre-registered SIM cards and email addresses, which were then distributed to local accomplices for Know Your Customer (KYC) verification across various states.The second suspect assisted in distributing KYC verifications for the compromised accounts, fraudulently obtaining Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) and KYC details from individuals within his community.
He then upgraded the accounts to Tier 5 verification.“Once the KYC process was complete, the second suspect would hand over the verified accounts to the first suspect, who would secure them by changing the passwords for their unidentified foreign employer,” Adejobi explained.Both suspects have confessed to their crimes and disclosed that they received cryptocurrency payments for their services.
They are now facing prosecution at a Federal High Court in Abuja on charges of computer-related fraud, impersonation, and criminal conspiracy, as stipulated in the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act.In January, the NPF reported a total of 84 arrests related to cyber offenses, with 32 suspects detained by the NPF-NCCC and 52 by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Lagos. Adejobi attributed these achievements to the Action Plan and the commitment of Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun to restore Nigeria’s reputation.
They are currently facing prosecution at a Federal High Court in Abuja for computer-related fraud, impersonation, and criminal conspiracy in accordance with the provisions of the Cybercrime (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act,” he said.Adejobi said the Nigeria Police Force, in January, arrested a total of 84 suspects over cyber-related offences.
He said 32 of the suspects were arrested through the NPF-NCCC, while 52 were arrested by the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Lagos.Adejobi attributed the successes to the Action Plan and the zeal of the Inspector-General of Police (I-G), Kayode Egbetokun, to redeem the reputation of Nigeria. (NAN)
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