Police bust job scam syndicate, rescue 15 victims in Rivers
Members of the syndicate arrested by the police in Rivers
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Police in Rivers have busted a notorious job scam syndicate behind a fraudulent recruitment company, Qjoseansel International Global Limited, and rescued 15 of their victims in Igwuruta,a suburb of Port Harcourt.
Olatunji Rilwan Disu, Rivers Commissioner of Police disclosed this to journalists in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
According to him, on August 29, 2024, at about 3 pm, operatives of Command attached to the Octopus strike force, acted on a credible piece of information about a possible hostage situation in a compound at Igwuruta.
He said the operatives swung into action and arrested a suspect, Chukwudi Okoli who posed as a staff of a company, Qjoseansel International Global Limited.
At the end of the rescue operation, Amiye Joseph 15 other victims comprising 13 males and two females were rescued and led to the Police station.
The Police boss said further that “preliminary investigations revealed that the unsuspecting victims had each paid monetary sums ranging from NGN 650,000 to NGN 850,000.00 each to the phoney company with vain assurance that they would be given jobs within the Oil/Gas sector and receive payment in US Dollars”.
He narrated further that the fraudsters operated in such a way that they would call their unsuspecting victims over the phone after a random selection of phone numbers. They would then introduce them to job opportunities and invite them to Port Harcourt where they would undergo fake interview processes.
He explained further that the victims are then extorted huge sums of money and held in a facility where they would be keenly monitored. After this is achieved, the victims will be subjected to training where they will be taught to convince potential victims about the job opportunities with a pay of USD 450 per week.
Disu said that “New entrants were tasked to pay USD 25 to facilitate a registration process.
“The suspects designed an online platform that generated a username and password for registrants upon completion of registration. Throughout the process, the victims are instructed to alienate themselves from other people”.
“Sophisticated gadgets and items were recovered from the operational office of the suspect including Phones, Laptops, Television sets, generators, Industrial Fans and office furniture”.
“The suspect and exhibits are in Police custody while the investigation is ongoing. We have intensified efforts to apprehend other members of the syndicate,” CP Disu concluded.
