By Deborah Nnamdi
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) said its operatives had arrested a suspect for over $597,000 in romance fraud.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Adejobi said the suspect was arrested for allegedly defrauding a female American national of $597,000 in an online love romance.
He said the suspect, arrested following a well-coordinated intelligence operation, had fraudulently assumed the identity of an American, using a fake name, to deceive and exploit unsuspecting victims, primarily women in online romance scams.
He said the suspect, arrested over identity theft, computer-related fraud, and money laundering, had confessed to defrauding one Deborah Woods, an American national, of 597,000 dollars.
The police spokesman said a search of the suspect’s premises led to the confiscation of multiple electronic gadgets used in perpetrating the illicit activities.
He added that eight BMW vehicles, suspected to be proceeds of the crime, recovered from the suspect were currently in police custody as exhibits, while efforts were ongoing to trace and identify other victims.
Adejobi said the Nigeria Police Force, in January, arrested a total of 84 suspects over cyber-related offenses.
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.
