Police Bust Cryptocurrency Fraud Syndicate, Arrest 7 Suspects

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCC) has arrested seven suspects in connection with a scam center, which specialised in cryptocurrency fraud.

The arrested suspects are Collins Ogwuorie, Christian Ogwuorie, Gbenoba Emmanuel, Samuel Olufemi, Collins Victor, Onyeka Emenem, and Kefas Ogunbor. Preliminary investigation revealed that the syndicate operated a sophisticated online fraud network led by Collins Ogwuorie, a Nigerian national with a history of online criminal deception.

The arrests were aided by the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) and insights shared by Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.

Force PRO, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, explained that investigation revealed the activities of an online investment scam center operating in Agbor, Delta State, where the suspects utilised fake social media accounts to impersonate reputable cryptocurrency traders, targeting unsuspecting individuals who interact with supposedly legitimate investment platforms.

According to him, “The leaders of this network expanded operations by recruiting and training young individuals in retirement investment fraud techniques and distribution of phishing attacks targeting victims from the United States of America based in the United Kingdom along with U.K. residents.”

The Force PRO revealed that further investigations showed that Ogwuorie procured approximately 500 social media accounts from online vendors and distributed them among his recruits for coordinated spamming, impersonation, and victim engagement.

The two Ogwuories were assigned various operational roles, including account management, online engagement, and mass spamming.

The syndicate also operated a fraudulent Facebook group titled “Retirement Strategies: Real Estate And Market Insights,” where fabricated testimonials were posted to lure victims into making financial investments.

The police added that during the operation, detectives from the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center recovered 26 mobile phones, 42 SIM cards, and one laptop, all suspected to have been used in the commission of the crime.

However, the Police spokesman added that investigations were still ongoing as members of the public were advised to exercise caution when engaging in online investment opportunities and to verify the authenticity of platforms before committing funds.