The operatives of the Nigeria Police Force – National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) have arrested a 37-year-old man, Egenevowero Emefeke, for allegedly pulling off a fraudulent scheme to defraud an Australian national.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who made this known via a statement issued on Monday, May 22, said the sum of 60,000 Australian dollars was recovered from the suspect who resides in Guida area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Adejobi said Emefeke was arrested following actionable intelligence made available by the South Australian Police Department.
He noted that the suspect, in a written statement during police interview, admitted to having committed the fraud and several others dating back to 2021.
The police spokesman stated: “In unmasking his modus operandi, investigation reveals that the suspect and his cohorts usually adopt pseudo identities of renowned international celebrities, carefully select their victims through different social media platforms.
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“They lure the victims into an attack popularly known as ‘Romance Scam’, and after gaining their trust, subsequently play on their emotion to swindle them of their resources.
“Investigation further revealed that the victims are usually vulnerable men and women in desperate search for emotional comfort and fame.”
Adejobi quoted the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, as commending the recent successes in tackling new wave of anti-cybercrimes recorded by NPF-NCCC in collaboration with international anti-cybercrime agencies.
The IGP urged the NPF-NCCC to sustain the drive and called on the public to exercise restraint in engaging in businesses and relationships with individuals whose real identities had not been physically verified.
“While the processes to repatriate the recovered fund to the victim through the Australian Consulate is being perfected, the suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations,” he added.
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