A large-scale raid on Victoria Island in Lagos, Nigeria's largest city, resulted in the arrest of 792 individuals involved in crypto romance scams.
Operation Details
During the operation, Nigeria's anti-graft agency detained 792 suspects, including 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, two Kazakhs, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian. The suspects used a building as a hub for conducting fraudulent operations.
Fraudulent Methods
The scammers lured victims with romantic interest and then convinced them to invest money in fake cryptocurrency projects. The primary platforms for contacting victims were social media and messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram. Victims were mainly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and Europeans. They were asked to pay 'activation fees' starting from $35.
Officials' Comments
Wilson Uwujaren, Spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, stated that the commission is collaborating with international partners and is examining potential links to organized crime. He also mentioned that computers, phones, and vehicles were seized during the raid.
The operation in Lagos highlights the complexity and scale of cryptocurrency fraud and the importance of international cooperation in combating cybercrime.
