Gbenro Adesina
Three suspects have been arrested by operatives of the Nigeria Police Cybercrime Unit, INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja, for cyber-related offences including advance fee fraud, money laundering and romance scam.
The suspects, Samson Inegbenesun ‘M’ 30 years, Blessed Junior ‘M’ 32 years and Muhammed Zakari ‘M’ 36 years, are from Uromi in Edo State
According to the Police, the suspects were arrested in Uromi, following investigations into suspected fraudulent online procurement and supply of COVID-19 protective mask, received through the INTERPOL NCB Wiesbaden, Germany.
Samson Inegbenosun, an internet fraudster and a member of a Turkey-based online scamming syndicate, allegedly supplies foreign and local bank accounts to receive fraudulent funds and use same as conduit to other feeder accounts.
It was gathered that the Police have recovered from him, a building apartment worth N20,000,000.00, a Toyota RAV-4 2015 model worth N6,500,000.00 and a Toyota Matrix 2002 model valued at N2,000,000.00, which he procured with the proceeds of the crime.
The second suspect, Blessed Junior, said to have returned to Nigeria from Italy in February, 2020 but maintains close contacts and illicit dealings with his Italian associates, has allegedly made over N120,000,000.00 from internet fraud and other cybercrime dealings.
He also received the sum of 52,000 EUROs recently from his criminal associates in Italy as commission for his active involvement in an international cybercrime deal.
Blessed Junior also owns a filling station established with the proceeds of the crime.
The third suspect, Mohammed Zakari, also an expert in internet fraud, identity theft and impersonation, falsely claims to be a British citizen. He also poses to be one Kelly Galk on online dating apps which he uses to carry out romance scams and to defraud unsuspecting members of the public,locally and internationally.
Zakari has allegedly made millions of Naira from his illicit cybercrime transactions since he joined the syndicate.
The Police said the suspects will be charged to court on conclusion of investigation and will be prosecuted in line with the Cybercrime Prevention/Prohibition Act, 2015.
