By Patrick Idowu
In a dramatic operation on January 9, 2025, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), apprehended four Chinese nationals and 101 Nigerians allegedly involved in a sprawling internet fraud syndicate operating from a business apartment in the Gudu area of Abuja.
According to EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale, the suspects were nabbed in the latest phase of the commission’s crackdown on cybercrime, targeting both local and international victims.
The group, comprising 67 men (including the four Chinese suspects) and 38 women, is accused of orchestrating hotel review scams aimed at defrauding victims and businesses across Europe and beyond.
The operation, which took place on Thursday, involved a swift raid as part of the EFCC’s ongoing mission to eliminate internet fraud and corruption.
Oyewale confirmed that the suspects would face charges once investigations are concluded.
This bust follows a record-breaking sweep in December 2024, when the EFCC arrested 792 individuals linked to cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams.
That raid, carried out in Lagos, targeted a high-rise building used by foreign criminals to train Nigerian accomplices in fraudulent tactics.
EFCC Director Wilson Uwujaren explained that the syndicate’s method involved exploiting Nigerians, training them to carry out romance and investment scams through fake profiles and phishing techniques.
The fraudsters used sophisticated equipment, including 500 SIM cards and a network of foreign communication lines, to lure victims, primarily from the U.S., Canada, and Europe, into fraudulent schemes.
The Nigerian operatives, who were trained in computer skills, were instructed to engage victims in romantic chats or bogus investment opportunities, directing them to a fake platform where activation fees were charged.
Once trust was gained, the foreign kingpins took over, isolating their Nigerian accomplices and continuing the deception.
EFCC investigations suggest that these Nigerian accomplices, who were not employed by any legitimate company and paid through cash or personal accounts, were unaware of the full extent of the scam, nor did they know the identities of their foreign handlers.
As the investigation continues, the EFCC is collaborating with international partners to uncover the broader network and determine the involvement of other global fraud cells.
