The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC) has arrested three suspects in connection with an alleged case of sextortion and romance scam.
The suspects, Abodunrin Rasheed ‘m’, Abodunrin Tunde ‘m’, and Abodunrin Rokeeb ‘m’, were apprehended following a report via the NPF-NCCC E-Reporting portal and an intelligence report from the Center.
According to a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Thursday, investigation revealed that the suspects met a Croatian national on a dating app and jointly claimed to be a woman.
“Their continuous chats progressed to Instagram and WhatsApp, leading to an intimate relationship. However, the Croatian was deceived into sending nude pictures of himself through the dating app. The suspects subsequently conspired and pressured him to pay ransom or have his pictures sent to his family and friends.
“The operatives of the NPF-NCCC conducted a due investigation, following the obtained information from the report, which led to the apprehension of the suspects and the recovery of the following exhibits related to the crime,” ACP Adejobi stated.
He added that the recovered exhibits include six iPhones, one Tecno phone, one Samsung phone, and a Lexus car.
Further investigations revealed that the suspects had previously engaged in numerous similar cybercriminal activities, both collectively and individually, defrauding and extorting numerous victims around the world.
“The proceeds of these crimes were primarily received through gift cards like the iTunes gift cards, steam gift cards, etc. The suspects will be charged in court upon completion of the investigations,” the Police spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has urged Nigerians to be wary of suspicious online activities of scammers and other cybercriminals, even as he sent out a strong warning to all individuals and groups involved in all sorts of cybercrime.
ACP Adejobi quoted the IGP as saying that the Nigeria Police Force will not relent in its fight against all sorts of crime and criminality.
“The IGP further reiterates the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to dominating Nigerian cyberspace and taking strict action against individuals or groups attempting to compromise national peace and security. The IGP assures Nigerians of his dedication to bolstering national security and tackling all forms of crime in every sector.
“Furthermore, citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious activities through the e-reporting portal of the NPF-NCCC: nccc.npf.gov.ng/ereport/signin to aid in the timely identification and apprehension of cybercriminals,” he stated.
