Police nab suspects allegedly involved in N400m, $597,000 fraud, others
One of the suspects
Published By: Ayorinde Oluokun
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
The Nigeria Police Force has arrested two individuals identified as Saidu Adam Usman and Yusuf Umar in connection with the creation and distribution of compromised financial accounts used to facilitate fraudulent transactions amounting to over N400 million.
Adam and Umar are among 82 suspects arrested in January for various financial and cyber related crimes including internet fraud, romance scams, identity theft, cryptocurrency fraud, transnational fraud, and many other cyber offences by the Nigeria Police Force.
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, revealed this in a statement on Thursday.
He added that through its National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC), Police also successfully apprehended 32 suspects across the nation in a significant crackdown on cyber-related crimes.
On how Adam and Umar executed the alleged N40O million fraud, Adejobi, in the statement said, “The suspects created Moniepoint profiles using pre-registered SIM cards and email addresses and then distributed to local accomplices across different states for KYC verification, fraudulently obtaining Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) and KYC details from individuals.
ACP Adejobi Olumuyiwa briefing the press
“Upon completion of the KYC process, the suspects would change the passwords to secure them for their unknown foreign contractor.
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Another arrest by the Police in January as revealed in the statement was apprehension of one Rabiu Aliyu Salisu AKA Rabo who duped an American of $597, 000.00.
Salisu who is involved in identity theft, computer-related fraud, and money laundering had fraudulently assumed the identity of an American citizen, presenting himself as Matthew Ramsey, and defrauded one Deborah Woods, an American national, of $597,000,” Adejobi said.
The Force spokesperson also revealed that following a filed petition for criminal defamation, cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and falsehood, police operatives secured the arrest of one Idowu Smart Emmanuel, who eventually admitted to his crimes and confessed that his allegations were false.
‘These operations highlight the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force, under the leadership of IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun to the Action Plan and the zeal of redeeming the reputation of our country, and taking the country out of the FATF Grey List.
“The Nigeria Police Force cautions against the inappropriate use of social media for the perpetration of crimes such as fraud, defamation and cyberstalking.
“The Force remains committed to identifying and curtailing cybercriminals and syndicates, ensuring that those involved in cyber-related crimes face the full weight of the law.
“Members of the public are advised to exercise extreme caution when engaging in online transactions and ensure adequate verification of the legitimacy of operators before conducting large financial dealings,” Olumuyiwa, an Assistant Commissioner of Police concluded in the statement.
