Men of the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) have arrested a suspect over an alleged $597,000 romance scam.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday in Abuja.
He said the suspect was arrested for allegedly defrauding a United States national of $597,000 in an online love romance.
The spokesman added that the suspect, arrested following a well-coordinated intelligence operation, had fraudulently assumed the identity of an American, and used a fake name to deceive and exploit unsuspecting victims, including women in online romance scams.
Adejobi said: “The suspect who was arrested over identity theft, computer-related fraud, and money laundering had confessed to defrauding one Deborah Woods, an American national, of $597,000.
“A search of the suspect’s premises led to the confiscation of multiple electronic gadgets used in perpetrating the illicit activities.
“Eight BMW vehicles suspected to be proceeds of the crime recovered from the suspect are currently in the police custody as exhibits while efforts are ongoing to trace and identify other victims.”