In a significant crackdown on internet fraud, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 792 alleged internet fraudsters in Lagos State, marking the largest single-day arrest in the commission’s history. The operation took place on December 10, 2024, in a seven-story building located in Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to Uwujaren Wilson, the EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, the suspects included 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos, two Kharzartans, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian. These foreigners were reportedly training Nigerians on how to conduct romance and investment scams by creating fictitious profiles for their Nigerian partners to use in fraudulent activities.
The EFCC discovered high-end desktop computers on every floor of the building and more than 500 SIM cards from Nigerian telecom carriers. The Nigerian accomplices were recruited by foreign kingpins to target victims online through phishing, primarily focusing on Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and Europeans. They were provided with desktop computers, mobile devices, and access to foreign communication lines to engage victims in romantic and business scams.
The suspects used platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram to communicate with their victims, often tricking them into shopping on a fake online investment platform called www.yooto.com, with activation fees starting at $35.
