- The EFCC has arrested 192 foreign nationals for alleged involvement in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams.
- The suspects are from China, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
- The EFCC discovered that the foreigners used a building in Lagos to train Nigerian accomplices and execute scams.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has made a massive arrest, taking in 192 foreign nationals for their alleged involvement in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams. This operation is the largest in the commission’s history, with suspects from China, the Philippines, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Indonesia being apprehended.
The EFCC carried out a surprise operation at the suspects’ hideout, a seven-storey building in Lagos, after months of surveillance. The investigation revealed that the foreigners used the building to train Nigerian accomplices on how to execute scams, and also used Nigerian identities to carry out their schemes.
The suspects allegedly targeted victims in the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe through phishing schemes, creating fake profiles and communicating with victims through WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram. They also encouraged victims to register on a fake online investment platform, requiring them to pay activation fees starting at $35.
