The operatives of the Nigeria Police Cybercrime Unit, INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja have arrested three (3) suspects namely Samson Inegbenesun (30 years old, male), Blessed Junior (32 years old, male), and Muhammed Zakari (36 years old, male), all from Uromi, Edo State, for cyber-related offences of advance fee fraud, money laundering and romance scam. They were arrested in Uromi, following investigations into suspected fraudulent online purchase and supply of COVID-19 protective masks, received through the INTERPOL NCB Wiesbaden, Germany.

It was discovered that Samson Inegbenosun is an internet fraudster and a member of one online scamming syndicate based in Turkey. It was found that he supplies foreign and local bank accounts to receive fraudulent funds and use same as conduit to other feeder bank accounts.

The Police recovered from him, a building apartment with a value of at least twenty million Naira (₦20,000,000.00), a Toyota RAV-4 2015 model worth about six and a half million Naira (₦6,500,000.00), and a Toyota Matrix 2002 model worth no less than two million Naira (₦2,000,000.00); all which he allegedly procured with the proceeds of his illicit online activities.

Blessed Junior is said to have returned to Nigeria from Italy in February this year yet continues his close contacts and illicit dealings with his Italian associates.

Investigations found that he has made over One Hundred and Twenty Million Naira (₦120,000,000.00) from internet fraud and other cybercrime dealings. In addition, it has been found that he received the sum of fifty two thousand Euros (€52,000) in a recent transaction from his criminal associates in Italy as commission for his active involvement in an international cybercrime deal.

Junior owns a fuel filling station which, according to investigations, was established with the proceeds of his crimes.

Mohammed Zakari was found to be an expert in internet fraud, identity theft and impersonation, and he poses sometimes as a British citizen. A he pretends to be one Kelly Galk on online dating platforms where he carries out romance scams and to defraud unwary members of the public in Nigeria and abroad. It was discovered that he has made millions of naira from cybercrime transactions since he joined the syndicate.

The Nigerian Police authorities said that the suspects will be charged to court once investigation is concluded, vowing that they will be prosecuted in line with the Cybercrime Prevention/Prohibition Act, 2015 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Source: The Force Headquarters, Nigerian Police Force