By Street News
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC) has arrested four suspects in connection with an alleged romance scam.
The suspects, Abodunrin Rasheed, Abodunrin Tunde, and Abodunrin Rokeeb, were apprehended following a report via the NPF-NCCC E-Reporting portal and an intelligence report from the Center.
This was disclosed in a press release issued on late Thursday, by the Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.
According to the police, the suspects met a Croatian national on a dating app, claiming to be a woman. They progressed to Instagram and WhatsApp, engaging in an intimate relationship. However, the Croatian was deceived into sending nude pictures, which the suspects used to extort money.
The operatives of the NPF-NCCC conducted a thorough investigation, recovering six iPhones, one Techno phone, one Samsung phone, and a Lexus car.
Further investigations revealed the suspects’ involvement in numerous similar cybercriminal activities, defrauding and extorting victims globally. Proceeds were primarily received through gift cards.
“The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center (NPF-NCCC) has recently arrested four suspects in connection with an alleged case of Sextortion and Romance scam.
“The suspects, Abodunrin Rasheed ‘m’, Abodunrin Tunde ‘m’, and Abodunrin Rokeeb ‘m’, were apprehended following a report via the NPF-NCCC E-Reporting portal and an intelligence report from the Center.
“Investigation revealed that the suspects met a Croatian national on a dating app and claimed to be a woman. Their continuous chats progressed to Instagram and WhatsApp leading to an intimate relationship.
“ However, the Croatian was deceived into sending nude pictures of himself through the dating app. The suspects subsequently conspired and pressured him to pay ransom or have his pictures sent to his family and friends.
“The operatives of the NPF-NCCC conducted a due investigation, following the obtained information from the report, which led to the apprehension of the suspects and the recovery of the following exhibits related to the crime. The recovered exhibits include six iPhones, one Techno phone, one Samsung phone, and a Lexus car.
“Further investigations revealed that the suspects have previously engaged in numerous similar cybercriminal activities, both collectively and individually, defrauding and extorting numerous victims globally. The proceeds of these crimes were primarily received through gift cards like the iTunes gift cards, steam gift cards etc. The suspects will be charged in court upon completion of the investigations.’-It reads in part.
