• Suspect allegedly builds filling station
The Nigeria Police Cybercrime Unit, INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Abuja, has arrested three male suspects in Uromi, Edo state for advance fee fraud, money laundering and romance scam.
The cybercrime-related suspects include: Samson Inegbenesun, 30; Blessed Junior, 32; and Muhammed Zakari, 36.
The suspects were said to have been arrested after investigations into suspected fraudulent online procurement and supply of COVID-19 protective masks, were received through the INTERPOL NCB Wiesbaden, Germany.
According to police investigation as revealed by the Force PRO, DCP Frank Mba, Inegbenosun is an internet fraudster and member of a Turkey-based online scam syndicate.
“Inegbenosun supplied foreign and local bank accounts to receive fraudulent funds and used the same as a conduit to other feeder accounts,” he said.
Mba noted further that the police recovered from him a building apartment worth N20m; a Toyota RAV-4 2015 model worth N6.5m; and a Toyota Matrix 2002 model valued at N2m, which he procured with the proceeds of the crime.
According to the force PRO, Junior, on the other hand, returned to Nigeria from Italy this February but maintained contact with his Italian associates.
Police investigations, however, revealed that he had made over N120m from Internet fraud and other cybercrime dealings.
Mba divulged, “He was found to have also received the sum of €52,000 recently from his criminal associates in Italy, as commission for his alleged involvement in an international cybercrime deal.”
The 30 years old allegedly owned a filling station established with the proceeds of the crime.
Meanwhile, Zakari is described as an expert in internet fraud, identity theft and impersonation. He was said to have claimed to be a British citizen and also posed as Kelly Galk on online dating apps, which he used in carrying out romance scams and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.
“Investigation reveals he has made millions of naira from his illicit cybercrime transactions since he joined the syndicate.
The police further assured the country that all the suspects would be prosecuted in line with the Cybercrime Prevention/Prohibition Act, 2015.
