Almost 800 arrested over Nigerian crypto-romance scam

Nigerian anti-corruption agency has arrested 792 suspects in a major raid on a building allegedly used as a hub for international online fraud.

The Financial and Economic Crimes Commission (EFCC) said the suspects, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipinos, were arrested on 10 December in the Big Leaf Building, a seven-storey building in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital.

According to EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren, the luxury building was being used as a call centre targeting victims in America and Europe. Fraudsters lured people through social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram, offering romantic or fake investment opportunities, particularly in crypto-currencies.

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Once trust was gained, victims were tricked into transferring funds into fraudulent schemes. Uwujaren said Nigerian accomplices first contacted victims, while their foreign partners managed the scam process.

During the raid, the EFCC seized computers, phones and vehicles and is working with international partners to investigate possible links with organised crime.

Dharshini RDA

Being a journalist is more than a profession, it is a commitment to public service. We are entrusted to seek the truth with unwavering dedication, to report with fairness and to challenge the injustice. Our duty is to be the voice for the voiceless and to bring light to places where there is darkness. I am dedicated to preserving the truth in every story and ensuring that no story fades into silence. RDA writes to bring forth the voices and moments that should live on forever in history for shaping the future.

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