Nigeria! defrauding, Bureau de Change operator, internet fraud, romance scam 2024.12.16

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that the Commission, in a landmark raid, arrested 792 suspects for their alleged involvement in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scam.

The suspects were apprehended on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, in a surprise operation at their hideout, an imposing seven-storey edifice known as Big Leaf Building, on No.7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos , following verifiable intelligence received by the Commission.

Speaking during a media briefing on Monday, December 16, 2024, at the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Commission, Olukoyede stated that 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, two Kharzartans, one Pakistani, one Indonesian were arrested during the operation.

The EFCC’s boss, who spoke though the Director, Public Affairs, EFCC, Commander of the EFCC, CEWilson Uwujaren, further stated that the foreign nationals used the facility, which could be mistaken for a corporate headquarters of a financial establishment, to train their Nigerian accomplices on how to initiate romance and investment scams and also used the identities of their Nigerian accomplices to perpetrate their criminal activities.

According to him, “All the floors are equipped with high-end desktop computers. On the 5th floor alone, investigators recovered 500 SIM cards of local telcos that were bought for criminal purposes.

“ Their Nigerian accomplices were recruited by the foreign kingpins to prospect for victims online through phishing, targeting mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and several others from European countries.

“They usually arm them with desktop computers and mobile devices and create fake profiles for them.

“The Nigerian accomplices are equally provided with logs that allow them access to foreign communication lines and victims, which they chat with on WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram.”

While giving further details about the modus operandi of the syndicate, the EFCC Chair said the Nigerian accomplices, who are assigned WhatsApp accounts linked to foreign telephone numbers, especially from Germany and Italy, engage victims in romantic conversations as well as phantom business and investment discussions to trick them to shop on the purported online investment shopping platform called www.yooto.com.

He added: “For those who show interest, activation fees for an account on the platform starts from $35USD.

“Investigation revealed that the criterion for recruiting these young Nigerians is proficiency in the use of computers, especially typing skill. Those who passed the test are given desktop computers and mobile devices and then taken through a two-week induction on how to personate foreign females in romance scam chats and convince victims to invest in their employers’ cryptocurrency investment scam.

“Once the Nigerians are able to win the confidence of would-be victims, the foreigners would take over the actual task of defrauding the victims and proceed to block their Nigerian accomplices from the network. This would then leave them in the dark about the transaction.”

He, however, said the Nigerians involved in the alleged fraudulent activities “do not know the owners of the ‘company’ they work for because they are not offered letters of appointments or receive payment from a corporate account.”

According to him, the suspected Nigerian accomplices are usually paid either in cash or through an individual’s account.

Olukoyede said the Commission was working with its foregoing partners to establish the extent of the scam and the accomplices as well as the likelihood of any collaboration with organized international fraud cells.

The EFCC Chair also used the occasion to debunk the notion that Nigerians are behind the tonnes of frauds emanating from the country.

“Foreigners are taking advantage of our nation’s unfortunate reputation as a haven of frauds to establish a foothold here to disguise their atrocious criminal enterprises. But, as this operation has shown, there will be no hiding places for criminals in Nigeria,”he said.

Also speaking during the occasion , the acting Zonal Director, Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Commission, Michael Wetkas, sought greater collaboration with the media in the fight against corruption and economic and financial crimes.

Items recovered from the suspects include desktop computers, mobile phones, laptop computers and cars at the point of arrest.

The suspects will be charged to court after investigations are concluded.

Four Convicted of Internet Fraud in Kwara State Court

The Kwara State High Court has imprisoned four individuals for internet fraud.

On Monday, December 9, 2024, two separate court sessions resulted in convictions of multiple cybercrime offenders. The cases, prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), involved elaborate schemes of online deception targeting international victims.

Akanbi Akorede Afeez, a student, was sentenced to two years in prison for fraudulently inducing a foreign victim to send gift cards worth $551 by posing as a white woman in a romantic relationship. As part of his sentence, Afeez was also ordered to clean the court premises for two weeks and forfeit his iPhone 14 Pro Max and HP laptop.

Three additional defendants – Oladejo Ibrahim Abiodun, Yusuf Adewale Gbadeyan, and Adeoye David Oluwatimileyin – were also convicted on separate charges of online fraud. Each defendant used various false identities to manipulate victims into sending money under the pretence of romantic relationships.

The sentence details varied.

Abiodun received a one-year sentence or a N400,000 fine, with the forfeiture of an iPhone 13 Pro and $100.
Gbadeyan was sentenced to six months imprisonment or a N300,000 fine, with the forfeiture of $300 and two mobile phones.
Oluwatimileyin was given eight months imprisonment or a N250,000 fine, with the forfeiture of $300 and an iPhone 12.

Justices Suleiman Akanbi and Haleema Saleeman presided over the cases, with prosecutors Rasheedat Alao and Victoria Igbodo presenting evidence of the criminal activities of the defendants.

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夸拉州法院判处四人网络诈骗罪
夸拉州高等法院因网络诈骗罪判处四人监禁。

2024 年 12 月 9 日星期一，两起单独的法庭审理,多名网络犯罪罪犯被定罪。这些案件由经济和金融犯罪委员会 (EFCC) 起诉，涉及针对国际受害者的精心策划的网络欺诈计划。

学生阿坎比·阿科雷德·阿菲兹 (Akanbi Akorede Afeez) 因冒充恋爱中的白人女性，诱骗一名外国受害者寄送价值 551 美元的礼品卡而被判处两年监禁。作为刑罚的一部分，阿菲兹还被要求在两周内打扫法院，并没收他的 iPhone 14 Pro Max 和 HP 笔记本电脑。

另外三名被告 Oladejo Ibrahim Abiodun、Yusuf Adewale Gbadeyan 和 Adeoye David Oluwatimileyin 也因网络诈骗罪被定罪。每名被告都使用各种虚假身份，以恋爱关系为幌子操纵受害者汇款。

Man Arrested, For ‘Fake Alert’ Fraud In Kano

Men of the Kano State Police command have confirmed the arrest of a man, for fraud.
Daily Report Nigeria gathers that the suspect specializes in duping people through the use of fake bank transfers.

The Kano State Police force has arrested one Aminu Abdullahi, a 50-years-old man for fraud.

According to reports, the suspects, who is notorious for generating fake bank transfers, popularly known as fake alert used his resemblance to renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Usman Gadon Kaya, to dubiously collect goods worth over N2m from traders.

Confirming the arrest, the spokesperson of the command, ASP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa said;

On 22nd November 2024, at about 6pm, a report was received from one Sunusi Aminu, ‘m’, of Gwale Quarters Kano that on the same date at about 5pm, one Aminu went to his Shop, presented himself as a younger brother to Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Usman Gadon Kaya collected two cartons of spaghetti valued N35,000:00 and maneuvered a fake alert on his phone,”

“Having presented himself as a brother to the revered Sheikh, they allowed him to go without seeing the transaction alert. After he left, when he checked his account balance, there was no such transaction.

“On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Salman Dogo Garba raised and instructed a team led by SP Abdulrahim Adamu, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Gwale Division to launch an investigation. The team immediately swung into action and arrested the suspect. He was later identified as Aminu Abdullahi, ‘m’, 50 years old of Kofar Nassarawa Quarters Kano.

“On preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed that he is neither a brother nor a relative to Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Gadon Kaya, and he can maneuver fake alert. That, having heard from people that he looked like the said Sheikh, took advantage and went to various shops and collected goods worth over two million naira. So far after his arrest, a total of twenty (20) Complainants have lodged complaints against him, which he confessed to have deceived, defrauded, and went away with their valuables.

“The Commissioner of Police directed that the case has been transferred to the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for discreet investigation. Whoever recognizes the person and has a complaint about him can come to the Kano State Police Command Headquarters through the Office of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), or contact the investigation team through 08166999948. Suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.

“The Commissioner of Police appreciates the good people of Kano State for their prayers, support, encouragement, and cooperation. He advised residents to be wary of impostors, fraudsters, and scammers and report suspicious transactions. In case of emergencies or suspicious person(s) / item(s), Kano State Police Command can be contacted through the following phone numbers; 08032419754, 08123821575, 09029292926.”

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卡诺州一男子因“虚假警报”诈骗被捕

卡诺州警察局确认已逮捕一名因诈骗罪的男子。
据《尼日利亚每日报道》获悉，该犯罪嫌疑人擅长使用虚假银行转账方式诈骗他人。
卡诺州警察局以诈骗罪逮捕了 50 岁的阿米努·阿卜杜拉希 (Aminu Abdullahi)。
据报道，该嫌疑人因制造虚假银行转账（俗称“虚假警报”）而臭名昭著，他利用自己与著名伊斯兰学者谢赫阿卜杜拉·乌斯曼·加顿·卡亚博士的相似之处，可疑地从商人手中收取价值超过 200 万奈拉的货物。

Police Arrest Alleged Serial Fraudster For N320m Scam In Lagos

The Nigeria Police Force, FCID Annex, Lagos, has arrested one Chinedu Ernest Ngwaka, a self-acclaimed Bureau de Change operator, for allegedly defrauding a businessman of N320 million.

Ngwaka and his wife, Janet Onyekachi Ngwaka, are accused of operating fraudulent currency exchange schemes and face additional allegations involving over N1.8bn in other fraudulent transactions.

According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, FCID Annex, Lagos, Mayegun Aminat, the arrest followed a petition filed on September 9, by Tochukwu Unachukwu, Managing Director of Casco Electronics Company Limited.

The petition, submitted through the legal firm Chinedu Laz and Partners (Deo Gratia Chambers), detailed how Mr. Unachukwu had transferred N320m to accounts linked to Ngwaka’s companies, Edunaco Multiple Resources Limited and Bright Janes World, for the procurement of $200,000 to facilitate the importation of goods from China.

However, despite presenting fake telex confirmations purportedly from Zenith Bank, investigations revealed that the funds never reached the intended Chinese suppliers.

Detectives from the Special Investigations Team of the Anti-Fraud Section at the FCID swiftly acted on the case, securing a warrant and arresting Ngwaka.

A black 2024 Toyota Hilux, bearing a fraudulent Presidency number plate, was recovered from the suspect.

Investigators also discovered a fake identity card falsely identifying Ngwaka as a consultant for the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, along with a fabricated letter purportedly from the Head of Service of the Federation requesting a Presidency number plate allocation.

Further investigations revealed that Ngwaka had no valid license to operate as a Bureau de Change operator, despite claims of association with Phobia BDC Ltd., whose license had been revoked earlier in the year. It was also uncovered that Ngwaka had used part of the defrauded funds to purchase the Toyota Hilux.

The case has taken a broader dimension as more victims have come forward with complaints against Ngwaka. Among them are Moses Chizoba Enechukwu, seeking the recovery of N1bn, and Chinedu Nwaforcha, who claims to have lost N840m to the fraudster.

The Police Public Relations Officer for the FCID Annex, Lagos, Mayegun Aminat, confirmed that Ngwaka and his accomplices would face prosecution upon completing investigations.

She urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any fraudulent activities, emphasizing that anyone caught engaging in such schemes would face the full force of the law.

“Upon the conclusion of the investigation, Ngwaka, along with his co-conspirators, will be charged to court for prosecution.
“The Assistant Inspector General of Force CID Annex Lagos urges the public to remain vigilant and report any similar fraudulent activities to the relevant authorities. Citizens are further warned that anyone involved in such illegal activities will face the full consequences of the law,” Mayegun said via her X handle @mayegunAmina.

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拉各斯警方逮捕涉嫌 3.2 亿奈拉诈骗案的连环诈骗犯

尼日利亚警察部队拉各斯 FCID 分局逮捕了一名自称是货币兑换处经营者的 Chinedu Ernest Ngwaka，他涉嫌诈骗一名商人 3.2 亿奈拉。

Ngwaka 和他的妻子 Janet Onyekachi Ngwaka 被指控实施欺诈性货币兑换计划，并面临涉及超过 18 亿奈拉的其他欺诈交易的指控。

根据拉各斯 FCID 分局警察公共关系官员马耶贡·阿米纳特 (Mayegun Aminat) 的声明，此次逮捕是根据卡斯科电子公司有限公司董事总经理托楚克乌·乌纳楚克乌 (Tochukwu Unachukwu) 于 9 月 9 日提出的申请进行的。

EFCC ARRESTS SUSPECTED FRAUDULENT PASTOR FOR N3.9M FRAUD IN ILORIN

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 arrested the General Overseer of CAC Freedom City Prophetic and Deliverance Ministry, Ilorin, Prophet Adeniyi Abiodun James, for allegedly defrauding a member of the church to the tune of N3,980,000 (Three Million, Nine Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira).

The victim, Oluwole Babarinsa, had in a petition to the Commission, alleged that Prophet James called him out during a church programme sometime in 2021 that he had a revelation that he would travel abroad.

According to the petitioner, the cleric, in the course of giving the revelation, asked him about his preferred country, to which he replied “Canada”. Thereafter, they reportedly struck an agreement to talk later in order to perfect arrangements for the trip.

The prophet, he said, later told him that he had a friend in Lagos who could help him facilitate his relocation to Canada, but at a cost of N1.7million and N2.5million for processing of flight ticket and travel documents, respectively.

The petitioner further disclosed that he had to sell some of his properties and took some loans before he could raise N3,980,000 which he gave the prophet to facilitate his quick relocation to Canada.

After prolonged waiting with no result, the petitioner became agitated and began to query the prophet’s vision, prompting him to ask for a refund of his money. He said that all efforts and entreaties to the suspect to refund his money yielded no positive result.

The suspect will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Media & Publicity
April 6, 2024

（https://www.efcc.gov.ng/efcc/news-and-information/news-release/9957-efcc-arrests-suspected-fraudulent-pastor-for-n3-9m-fraud-in-ilorin
）

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先知在尼日利亚因诈骗被捕：EFCC 揭露诈骗
经济和金融犯罪委员会 (EFCC) 伊洛林地区指挥部于 2024 年 4 月 2 日星期二逮捕了 CAC 自由城预言和拯救部总监督伊洛林先知阿德尼伊·阿比奥敦·詹姆斯 (Adeniyi Abiodun James)，罪名是涉嫌欺骗一名教会成员
（EFCC ARRESTS SUSPECTED FRAUDULENT PASTOR FOR N3.9M FRAUD IN ILORIN）

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EFCC arrests pastor for ‘defrauding church member of N3.9m’ in Ilorin

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says its operatives have arrested Adeniyi Abiodun James, the general overseer (GO) of CAC Freedom City Prophetic and Deliverance Ministry, in Ilorin, Kwara state, for allegedly defrauding a member of his church.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, in a statement on Saturday, said James was arrested on April 2 after a petition by one Oluwole Babarinsa.

Babarinsa, a church member, accused the GO of defrauding him of N3,980,000.

In the petition, Babarinsa alleged that the pastor prophesied during a church programme in 2021 that he would travel abroad.

The petitioner said the pastor asked him about his preferred country, to which he replied, “Canada”.

He added that they then agreed to talk later to perfect arrangements for the trip.

Babarinsa claimed that the clergyman told him that he had a friend in Lagos who could facilitate his relocation to Canada at the cost of N1.7 million and N2.5 million for processing flight tickets and travel documents, respectively.

Babarinsa said he had to sell some of his properties and took some loans to raise N3,980,000, which he allegedly gave the pastor to facilitate his relocation to Canada.

“After prolonged waiting with no result, the petitioner became agitated and began to query the prophet’s vision, prompting him to ask for a refund of his money,” the statement reads.

“He said that all efforts and entreaties to the suspect to refund his money yielded no positive result.”

Oyewale said the suspect would be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of the investigations.

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EFCC arrests Ilorin pastor over alleged N3.9m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arrested an Ilorin based clergyman, Prophet Adeniyi James, for allegedly defrauding a member of his church to the tune of N3.9 million.

A statement by the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, on Saturday, said the Ilorin Zonal Command arrested James on April 2, 2024 for the alleged offence.

It was gathered that James is the General Overseer of Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Freedom City Prophetic and Deliverance Ministry in Ilorin.

Oyewale noted that the victim, Oluwole Babarinsa, in a petition to the Commission, alleged that James called him out during a church programme sometime in 2021, declaring that he had a revelation that he (Babarinsa) would travel abroad.

“The petitioner said the cleric, in the course of giving the revelation, asked him about his preferred country, which he replied ‘Canada’ and they agreed to talk later in order to perfect arrangements for the trip.

“The petitioner said James later told him that he had a friend in Lagos who could help him facilitate his relocation to Canada, but at a cost of N1.7 million and N2.5 million for processing of flight ticket and travel documents, respectively.

“Babarinsa added that he had to sell some of his properties and took some loans before he could raise N3,980,000 which he gave the prophet to facilitate his quick relocation to Canada.

“After prolonged waiting with no result, the petitioner became agitated and began to query the prophet’s vision, prompting him to ask for a refund of his money.

“All efforts and entreaties to the suspect to refund his money yielded no positive result,” EFCC spokesman said.

The suspect would be arraigned in court after the conclusion of the investigations, Oyewale added.

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尼日利亚因诈骗先知而被捕 – EFCC 揭露了这一骗局

在伊洛林的一份声明中，尼日利亚经济和金融犯罪委员会（EFCC）确认在4月2日，他们逮捕了一名涉嫌诈骗的先知詹姆斯。据EFCC的媒体和公共关系官员德勒·奥耶瓦勒（Dele Oyewale）称，受害者奥卢沃勒·巴巴林萨（Oluwole Babarinsa）提交了投诉，称詹姆斯在2021年的一次教堂活动中联系了他，并声称领悟到将为该外国人留下的遗产。

巴巴林萨在诉状中描述，先知愿意帮助他移民加拿大，费用为170万奈拉的旅行费用和250万奈拉的机票、签证和旅行证件费用。为了筹集所需金额，受害者不得不出售资产并借款，总计398万奈拉交给了先知。

等待了很长时间后仍未见结果，巴巴林萨开始追问先知关于实现他的愿景的解释。尽管先知坚持他提出的要求，但面对受害人要求退款时却拒绝返还所支付的款项，并且无法再联系到他。

这个案例提醒我们对宗教领袖的信任必须保持警觉，强调了某些宗教团体中存在的欺诈问题。教育大众在面对此类承诺时要保持警惕，不轻易被那些虚假承诺所蒙蔽至关重要。

EFCC再次表现出他们保护公民免受欺诈和滥用行为的承诺。这次逮捕凸显了公众积极合作的必要性，以帮助揭露和阻止这类恶意行为。

公民必须保持警觉、知情和受过教育，以避免落入以宗教信仰或虚假承诺为幌子的诈骗陷阱。通过及时了解情况并报告可疑活动，我们可以共同努力创造一个更安全、更受保护的社会环境。