In a raid on a building considered to be a gathering place for scammers who enticed victims with promises of romance before pressuring them to give over money for fake cryptocurrency investments, Nigeria’s anti-graft agency reported that they had detained 792 individuals.
The arrests were made Tuesday as part of a sting operation in a phony criminal den housed in a seven-story building that could be mistaken for a financial establishment’s corporate headquarters, EFCC Executive Chairman Ola Olukoyede said .
According to Wilson Uwujaren, a spokesman for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the suspects were 40 Filipino and 148 Chinese nationals, who were taken into custody on December 10 at the seven-story Big Leaf Building in Lagos, the commercial hub of Nigeria.
He stated that a call center mostly serving victims from the Americas and Europe was located in the lavish foundation.Employees would reach out to people via social media and messaging apps like Instagram and WhatsApp, then entice them online or present them with what appeared to be profitable investment options, Uwujaren told reporters.
Following their addiction, individuals were forced into sending money for fake cryptocurrency schemes and other nonexistent activities.
Uwujaren stated that the overseas kingpins hired Nigerian teammates to scout victims online via phishing, mostly targeting Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and a few others from European nations.
According to him, the foreigners would take over the actual duty of scamming the victims once the Nigerians were able to gain the trust of potential victims.
Lastly he added, the Commission was working with foreign partners and will investigate any possible connections to organized crime. He claimed that during the raid, its agents confiscated cars, phones, and computers.
The news comes after an Asian report of a similar nature. A deepfake romance scam that duped people out of almost $46 million through bogus cryptocurrency investments was busted by Hong Kong authorities in mid-October.
Nigerian anti-corruption agency has arrested 792 suspects in a major raid on a building allegedly used as a hub for…
Reports of massive destruction are coming from Mayotte after a 100 year hurricane slammed over the French archipelago Saturday wreaking…
ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray has announced that the transition period will run from 29 January 2025 to 29 July…
At a debate held on Friday, three African politicians vying for the leadership of the African Union outlined their strategies…
One of the worst calamities in recent times is Chad's devastating flooding that has devastated about two million people since…
With 2024 drawing to a close, it's time to start planning your holidays, especially as 2025 offers exciting long weekends…
This website uses cookies.