In a significant operation, nearly 800 individuals were arrested in Nigeria for their involvement in a sophisticated romance scam that primarily targeted victims from the United States and Europe. The arrest was carried out by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after a tip-off led authorities to a luxury office building in Lagos. The building, housing a seven-story call center, was the base of operations for the fraudsters who used social media platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram to lure victims into fake romantic relationships. Once victims were emotionally engaged, the scammers convinced them to invest in bogus cryptocurrency schemes, including one called Yooto-dot-com.
The scam operation was meticulously organized, with 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, and other foreign accomplices among those arrested. The perpetrators recruited young Nigerians, providing them with desktop computers and mobile devices. These recruits underwent a two-week training program on impersonating foreign individuals in romance scam chats, using fake identities to deceive victims. They were then assigned WhatsApp accounts linked to international phone numbers, primarily from countries like Germany and Italy, to further the illusion of authenticity.
Once the romance scams were successfully initiated, the criminals steered victims toward fraudulent investment opportunities, particularly in cryptocurrency. Victims were often encouraged to activate accounts on the fake platform by paying activation fees, which started at $35 USD. The fraudsters used psychological manipulation to gain their victims’ trust, only for the perpetrators to then take control of the scam and make off with the funds. Investigators found high-end desktop computers, mobile devices, and a stash of over 500 SIM cards used to operate the fraudulent scheme.
This operation underscores a larger issue of foreign criminal syndicates exploiting Nigeria’s reputation for fraud, with international criminals setting up shop in the country to mask their operations. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede emphasized that while Nigeria is often seen as the source of these scams, the true masterminds often come from abroad, exploiting local labor to execute the scams. As the investigation continues, the EFCC is collaborating with international partners to uncover the full scope of the fraud and to identify connections to other global criminal enterprises. The operation highlights the growing need for global cooperation to combat such cybercrime syndicates.
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