Agents of the Nigeria Police Cybercrime Unit, INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja have arrested three (3) suspects.
The suspects are Samson Inegbenesun, Blessed Junior and Muhammed Zakari, all male and in their 30s.
As indicated by an announcement by the police representative, DCP Frank Mba on Sunday, July 12, the suspects were arrested for cyber-related offences including advance fee fraud, money laundering and romance scam.
He said the suspects were arrested in Uromi, their old neighborhood in Edo state following investigations into suspected fraudulent online procurement and supply of COVID-19 protective mask, received through the INTERPOL NCB Wiesbaden, Germany.
“Investigations reveal 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 a conduit to other feeder accounts,” the statement revealed.
Mba said the police recovered a building apartment worth N20million from him, a Toyota RAV-4 2015 model worth N6.6million and a Toyota Matrix 2002 model valued at N2million.
He said 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 reveal that he has made over N120million from internet fraud and other cybercrime dealings.
“He also received the sum of 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,” DCP Mba said.
The third person, Mohammed Zakari, is said to be an expert in internet fraud, identity theft and impersonation, and 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.
“Investigation reveals he has made millions of naira from his illicit cybercrime transactions since he joined the syndicate,” the statement concluded.
The arrests of the three men is coming a long time aftersuspected Nigerian online scammer, Ray Huspuppi was arrested in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
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In the interim, the director of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said Hushpuppi must be made to confront the full rage of the law.
As per the NIDCOM executive, fraudsters like him are answerable for demolishing the picture of fair Nigerians who maintain numerous sources of income abroad.
