Police operatives attached to the Cyber Crime Unit at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, have arrested two friends for alleged identity theft and love scam.
The suspects, Jerry Okoye and Ifeanyi Nwosu , were rounded up in their Panasonic estate, Abuja, following an intelligence report on their activities.
Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who spoke on their arrests, said there was evidence of funds exchanging hands between the suspects and their victims.
He said: “In furtherance of the matching order of the acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to bequeath to Nigerians, a safer cyber space, the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre, recently apprehended two individuals involved in criminal conspiracy, identity theft, and romance scams, while efforts are in top gear to apprehend others who are on our radar.
“The suspects, both residents of Panasonic Estate in Idu, Abuja, have confessed to their participation in computer-related frauds associated with romance scams and identity theft.
“Substantial evidence from their electronic devices has shed light on their criminal activities.
“Okoye, a former student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), claimed to have been in the music industry since 2016 and operates a public relations company.
“However, he confessed to engaging in fraudulent activities dating back to 2014, primarily through Facebook.”
According to Adejobi, the investigation also uncovered compelling evidence, linking him to fraud and romance scams, extending to the present day.
Continuing Adejobi said: “Similarly, Nwosu, a close associate of Okoye, who was arrested alongside the first suspect, claimed that his visit to him was for music recording purposes.
However, he admitted to having a unique connection with a 69-year-old white woman known as Winnie, whom he identified as both a fan and friend.
“This connection goes beyond casual friendship, as evidence indicating series of cash exchanges between Nwosu and the elderly woman, has shown.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains unwavering in our commitment to ensuring the safety and security of citizens by cracking down on criminal activities .
“We urge members of the public to remain vigilant and cautious when interacting with individuals online, especially those they have not met in person.
“We call on Nigerians to actively collaborate with the force in securing our cyber-space and protecting communities from this menace. Safeguarding Nigeria is a collective responsibility that must not be trivialised,” he added.
