Police bust international cyber scam ring in Delta
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The syndicate also allegedly ran a fake Facebook page called “Retirement Strategies: Real Estate and Market Insights,” which featured fabricated testimonials designed to lure investors into fraudulent schemes.
The Nigeria Police Force has successfully dismantled an international cybercrime hub in Agbor, Delta State, arresting seven individuals suspected of orchestrating large-scale online investment fraud affecting victims in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and other countries.
The Force Headquarters announced on Thursday that the operation was conducted by the Police National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCC) in partnership with the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), with intelligence support provided by Meta.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, the suspects operated an elaborate online investment scam, creating fake social media profiles to impersonate reputable cryptocurrency traders and dupe unsuspecting investors.
“The suspects utilised fake social media accounts to deceive individuals engaging with legitimate investment platforms,” Hundeyin explained. He added that the syndicate also recruited and trained youths in phishing and other online investment fraud schemes, with a particular focus on UK-based victims.
The arrested suspects have been named as Collins Ogwuorie, Christian Ogwuorie, Gbenoba Emmanuel, Samuel Olufemi, Collins Victor, Onyeka Emenem and Kefas Ogunbor.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Collins Ogwuorie led the network, reportedly procuring around 500 social media accounts from online vendors, which were then distributed to syndicate members for coordinated spamming, impersonation and interaction with potential victims. Each member had designated responsibilities, including managing accounts and liaising with targets.
The syndicate also allegedly ran a fake Facebook page called “Retirement Strategies: Real Estate and Market Insights,” which featured fabricated testimonials designed to lure investors into fraudulent schemes.
During the raid, police seized 26 mobile phones, 42 SIM cards, and one laptop, all believed to have been used in committing the offences. Investigations are ongoing, and the public has been urged to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of online investment platforms.
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