The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a staggering 792 suspects in a single raid targeting a cryptocurrency investment and romance scam syndicate.
Wilson Uwujaren, Director of Public Affairs disclosed this to journalists in Lagos, noting that the operation, conducted recently apprehended the suspects at their seven-story hideout in Lagos. Among those arrested were 193 foreign nationals, including 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, and individuals from Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Indonesia.
Months of surveillance led the EFCC to the well-disguised headquarters, which housed sophisticated equipment and hundreds of SIM cards used for criminal activity. The investigation revealed the foreign nationals trained Nigerians to initiate online scams, often impersonating foreign females, to target victims from the US, Canada, Mexico, and Europe.
The foreign scammers recruited young Nigerians by testing their computer skills. Those selected were equipped with technology and trained to engage victims in romantic conversations and fabricate business and investment opportunities.
The EFCC is actively working with international partners to expose the full extent of the scam and identify any collaborators. The seized evidence includes computers, phones, laptops, and vehicles.
The suspects are currently detained and awaiting arraignment. This operation highlights the presence of foreign actors exploiting Nigeria’s reputation for fraud for their own criminal gains. However, the EFCC assures the public that their efforts will continue to dismantle such criminal networks within the country.