By
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has apprehended two individuals involved in a sophisticated cryptocurrency fraud operation that targeted international victims. The suspects, Odia Theophilus (24) and Ebo Junior Success (25), were arrested in Benin City, Edo State, after an investigation led by the NPF-NCCC, following a report from the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency in South Korea.
The suspects, operating as part of a larger syndicate, used fake identities to build romantic relationships online with victims, promising love and financial gain. In this case, the duo defrauded a Korean national, Baek Seong-hee, out of 259,637,941 Korean Won (approximately 91 million Naira) in cryptocurrency. The victim was deceived into believing they were communicating with a US soldier stationed in Yemen.
The suspects admitted their roles in the fraud, which included setting up bank accounts to facilitate the illegal transactions. The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Usman Baba commended the efforts of the NPF-NCCC and highlighted the importance of global police collaboration through Interpol in combating cybercrime.
The suspects will face charges in court once investigations are completed.
