Nigeria arrests nearly 800 suspects in crypto romance scams

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency has arrested 792 suspects in a raid at Victoria Island in Lagos, the largest city in the country. The raided building was being used as a prior hub to operate scams. 

In such scams, called “crypto romance scams,” the fraud actors would attract victims with offernig romantic interest. Once the victims get obsessed with them, the criminals would press them to hand over cash for fake cryptocurrency investments and other non-existent projects. 

According to the report by AsiaOne, The suspects, including a total of 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, two Kharzartans, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian, were arrested during the agency’s operation. 

The criminals primarily used social media and messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram to get connected with the victims. Most Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and several others from European countries were targeted as victims by the scammsters.

For those who showed interest, they were asked for activation fees, starting from $35, for an account on the platform. 

Wilson Uwujaren, the Spokesperson at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said, “The Commission was collaborating with international partners and would look into potential links to organized crime.” 

He further said that the agents of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency have seized computers, phones, and vehicles in the raid.