Operatives of the Nigeria Police Cybercrime Unit, INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Abuja have arrested three suspects; Samson Inegbenesun, 30; Blessed Junior, 32; and Muhammed Zakari, 36, all male from Uromi in Edo State for cyber-related offences, including advance fee fraud, money laundering and romance scam.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police Frank Mba, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday.
The suspects were arrested in Uromi following investigations into suspected fraudulent online procurement and supply of COVID-19 protective mask, received through the INTERPOL NCB Wiesbaden, Germany.
Investigations revealed that Samson Inegbenosun is an internet fraudster and a member of a Turkey-based online scamming syndicate.
He supplies foreign and local bank accounts to receive fraudulent funds and use same as conduit to other feeder accounts.
Meanwhile, the Police have recovered from him a building apartment worth N20 million, a Toyota RAV-4 2015 model worth N6.5 million and a Toyota Matrix 2002 model valued at N2 million, which he procured with the proceeds of the crime.
The second suspect, Blessed Junior, returned to Nigeria from Italy in February 2020, but maintains close contacts and illicit dealings with his Italian associates.
Investigations revealed that he has made over N120 million from internet fraud and other cybercrime dealings.
He also received 52,000 EUROs recently from his criminal associates in Italy as commission for his active involvement in an international cybercrime deal.
He also owns a filling station established with the proceeds of the crime.
Mohammed Zakari, an expert in internet fraud, identity theft and impersonation, falsely claims to be a British citizen.
He also poses to be one Kelly Galk on online dating apps, which he uses to carry out romance scams and to defraud unsuspecting members of the public, locally and internationally.
The rescue of the American lady is coming on the heels of a similar case of abducted Philippino lady, who was lured to Nigeria by her supposed lover whom she equally met on Facebook.
Investigations revealed that the suspect, Chukwuebuka Kasi Obiaku, is a graduate of Business Administration and Management and an internet fraudster who has defrauded many unsuspecting members of the public both locally and internationally.
Obiaku deliberately lured the victim into the country under the pretext of love and deceitfully married her on May 15, 2019.
He subsequently held her captive in a hotel, extorted from her monies amounting to a total of $48,000.
He also forcefully collected and took control of her credit and debit cards as well as the operation of her bank accounts, including the receipt of her monthly retirement benefits and allowances over the period of 15 months.
He also used the victim as a front to defraud her associates and other foreign personalities and companies.
Eagleonline
