The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has apprehended seven individuals linked to a scam centre that specialised in cryptocurrency fraud.
The suspects are Collins Ogwuorie, Christian Ogwuorie, Gbenoba Emmanuel, Samuel Olufemi, Collins Victor, Onyeka Emenem, and Kefas Ogunbor.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the syndicate ran a sophisticated online fraud network led by Collins Ogwuorie, a Nigerian with a history of online criminal deception.
The arrests were carried out with support from the United Kingdom National Crime Agency (NCA) and intelligence shared by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Benjamin Hundeyin, said the investigation uncovered an online investment scam centre operating in Agbor, Delta State.
The suspects allegedly used fake social media accounts to impersonate reputable cryptocurrency traders, targeting unsuspecting individuals interacting with supposedly legitimate investment platforms.
According to Hundeyin, “The leaders of this network expanded operations by recruiting and training young individuals in retirement investment fraud techniques and distribution of phishing attacks targeting victims from the United States of America based in the United Kingdom along with U.K. residents.”
Further investigations showed that Ogwuorie procured 500 social media accounts from online vendors and distributed them among his recruits for coordinated spamming, impersonation, and victim engagement.
The two Ogwuories were reportedly assigned operational roles including account management, online engagement, and mass spamming.
The syndicate also ran a fraudulent Facebook group titled “Retirement Strategies: Real Estate And Market Insights,” where fabricated testimonials were posted to lure victims into making financial investments.
During the operation, detectives from the NPF-NCC recovered 26 mobile phones, 42 SIM cards, and one laptop, all suspected to have been used in the commission of the crime.
The Police spokesman noted that investigations are ongoing and urged the public to exercise caution when engaging in online investment opportunities, advising them to verify the authenticity of platforms before committing funds.
