Police Cyber Crime Centre Arrests Two For Fraud

The Cyber Crime Centre of the Nigeria Police Force has arrested two suspects of cyber crime identified as 24-year-old Odia Theophilus and 25-year-old Ebo Junior Success.

The suspects are responsible for computer-related fraud, identity theft, cryptocurrency fraud, and obtaining money by false pretence.

This was contained in a statement issued by the force spokesperson, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the suspects run a syndicate that specialized in defrauding unsuspecting victims from foreign countries.

The statement explained further that the suspects assume appealing identities of other persons and promising their victims romantic relationships, under the pretext of which they defraud them.

The statement reads: "In the extant case, a report on their activities was received from Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency in Korea through the Interpol National Central Bureau that in May, 2021, the suspects approached the victim, one Baek Seong-hee, a Korean national, via Kakaotalk, a mobile messaging application used majorly in South Korea, in the guise of being a member of the US Armed Forces stationed in Yemen. 

"The suspect used the pretext of a romantic relationship and defrauded the victim of 259,637,941 Korean Won (KRW) worth of cryptocurrency equivalent to about 91 million Nigerian Naira. 

"Subsequent investigations led the NPF-NCCC to the arrest of the duo of Odia Theophilus aged 24 and Ebo Junior Success aged 25 at their hideout in Benin City, Edo State. 

"The suspects confessed to being part of a syndicate responsible for these crimes and stated their roles as accomplices who provide bank accounts for fraudsters in furtherance of their nefarious activities."

The statement further disclosed that the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba commended efforts of the Police Cybercrime Centre Head, DCP Uche Ifeanyi Henry which led to the success recorded. 

He also appreciated other police agencies worldwide via the Interpol NCB platform for their collaboration in tackling transnational crimes.

The statement added that the suspects would be charged to court upon completion of investigation by the police force.