Foreigners Taking Over Cyber Crime In Nigeria

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has raised the alarm of new trend of foreigners taking over Nigeria cyber space to commit fraud in Nigeria.

The EFCC director of public affairs, Wilson Uwajaren said these trend is becoming common and the world needs to know that not all crimes committed in Nigeria are actually done by Nigerians.

In the past one month, the EFCC and the Nigeria Police Force have arrested over 100 foreigners indicted for these crimes.

In a chat with me, Uwajaren said four Chinese and 104 Nigerians were arrested last week in a business apartment in the Gudu axis of Abuja.

He said the suspects, comprising 67 males (including four Chinese) and 38 females, were  allegedly  involved in hotel review job scam targeting victims and hotels in Europe and other parts of the world.

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Uwajaren also explained that these foreigners put up adverts for jobs and lure some Nigerians into thinking there were employed for legitimate jobs.

Elaborating further on the new fraud, called hotel review scam, the EFCC head of cybercrime, Deen Whyte said it involves luring hotels in abroad, especially UK and US into accepting review and in the process, demand investment, which will now be stolen.

He further said the Chinese arrested are actually the leaders of the syndicate and the EFCC is  working more closely with other security agencies to determine the extent of fraud they have committed and how to go about solving it.

Meanwhile, the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale while speaking on the date of the suspects arraignment,  noted that the suspects will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.

Also, the federal government, in December 2024,  arraign 130 suspects comprising 113 foreign nationals (87 males and 26 females), predominantly of Chinese and Malaysian origin, and their 17 Nigerian collaborators (four males and 13 females) for their alleged involvement in high-level cybercrimes, hacking, and activities that threaten national security.

The Nigeria Police Force had arrested the suspects in an operation that was conducted through a coordinated raid on a building at the Next Cash and Carry area of Jahi, Abuja.The suspects were reportedly using computers and other sophisticated devices to facilitate criminal activities.The head of Nigeria Police Force Cyber Crime unit, CP Henry Ifeanyi Uche said these foreigners commiting these crimes in Nigeria are some of the reasons why cybercrime is always rated high in Nigeria