A suspected Nigerian fraudster based in India has been arrested by the police after one of his victims reportedly committed suicide.
According to an online news platform, Indian Express, the 31-year-old Nigerian national identified as Chijioke John Okoye, was arrested for allegedly blackmailing and extorting money from a woman who later died by suicide on March 1.
The news outlet, in a publication on Monday, said Okoye who had been residing in New Delhi, the Indian capital since 2020, was apprehended in Palam Colony on Friday after a detailed investigation and was charged to court in Cuttack on Sunday.
The report stated that Okoye’s arrest was made possible as the Cuttack police launched an inquiry after the victim’s family filed a complaint following her death.
“A suicide note revealed that she had been repeatedly blackmailed and threatened by an unknown individual on WhatsApp,” the outlet said.
“The Cyber Cell of Cuttack Urban Police District traced the suspect through international phone numbers linked to the case.
“Okoye had allegedly created over 3,000 fake Facebook profiles, impersonating professionals such as doctors.
“Using these identities, the police said he would send friend requests to individuals in similar fields, build relationships, and obtain their contact details.
“DCP Khilari Dnyandeo explained; ‘He used those fake profiles to send friend requests to other profiles in similar domains.
‘After developing a friendship with them, he cunningly used them to obtain their mobile and WhatsApp numbers on the pretext of having a relationship with them.
“Once he established contact, the police said he would allegedly convince victims to share private and intimate photos or videos by sending them fake images of the individuals he was impersonating.
“According to the police, he would then use this material to blackmail and extort money from the victims.
“Okoye used the same tactics on the Cuttack woman, threatening to release her private content unless she continued paying him.
“Overwhelmed by fear and unable to escape his demands, the 37-year-old woman ended her life.
“Following his arrest, police recovered a laptop, five mobile phones, and eight SIM cards from different countries. Though Okoye is Nigerian, the police said he was found in possession of a passport issued by Côte d’Ivoire, which is currently under verification.
“The Cuttack police added that they were investigating whether he acted alone or was part of a larger cybercrime network.
“He will be taken on remand for further investigation to ascertain whether he was operating alone or working as part of a larger cybercrime syndicate.”