The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fraudsters

  • EFCC arrests 13 internet ‘fraudsters’

    EFCC arrests 13 internet ‘fraudsters’

    The EFCC has arrested 13 suspected Internet fraudsters for conspiracy, possession of fraudulent documents and obtaining money under false pretence.

    The suspects are- Badejo Tobi; Abiola Dimeji; Anthony Godwin; Osoba Adeboye; Adeleken Abiodun and Awokoya Oriyomi Yusuf.

    Others are:  Oyatayo Ismail; Coffie Meschark; Sylvester Amaddin; Olawale Farouk; Adeniran Tolani; Taiwo Michael and OyekanmiAyodeji.

    According to the commission, the suspects were arrested on December 16, 2006 in some parts of Lagos and Ogun States, following intelligence report received by the Commission about their activities.

    The EFCC said: “The suspects allegedly confessed to being involved in phishing, love scam, forgery, spoofing and business email compromise, among other offences.

    “Phishing is an attempt to obtain sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details (and money), often for malicious reasons, by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.

    “Spoofing, on the other hand, is a type of scam where an intruder attempts to gain unauthorized access to a user’s system or information by pretending to be the user.

    “Some of the suspects, who live flamboyantly without any known sources of income, were said to have bought houses and exotic cars from the proceeds of their criminal activities.

    “ They were allegedly found to be in possession of forged contract papers of multinational oil and gas companies, banks’ instruments and forged data page of international passports of foreign nationals, among other documents.

    “Other items recovered from the suspects included laptops, flash drives, modems, one Range Rover SUV, one Toyota Highlander, two Toyota Corolla and one Toyota Camry.

    The suspects will soon be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”

  • Beware of fraudsters, Ogun urges farmers

    The Ogun State government has urged farmers, especially those residing in state’s forest reserves to beware of fraudsters allegedly demanding money to influence the proposed review of Forestry and Wild Life LawA before the State House of Assembly in their favour.

    Commissioner for Forestry, Chief Kolawole Lawal, gave the advice in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital revealed that some miscreants had reportedly approached farmers in Omo Forest Reserved Area demanding they contribute money under the pretence of influencing the proposed law.

    He stated that such money was a waste, adding that the review of the law wasn’t within their powers, saying it remained the responsibility of government to carry out such amendment.

    Lawal said: “We consider any money contributed for this purpose as waste. The review of the law is a statutory and sole responsibility of the government of Ogun State over which nobody has any right. Our legislators are known to be people of impeccable characters and integrity who cannot be influenced in the discharge of their legislative duties.’’

  • Highway fraudsters draw the ire of Professor Johnbull

    Criminally-minded individuals who play dirty tricks on motorists on the highway with a view to fleecing them are the focus of the first episode of Season Four of the hilarious TV series, Professor Johnbull.

    It is sponsored by leading telecommunications company, Globacom.

    The episode, entitled: “Point and Kill”, goes on air at 8.30 p.m. on tomorrow on  NTA Network, NTA International on DSTV Channel 251 and NTA on StarTimes.

    According to a statement from Globacom headquarters, the episode will treat the menace of mischief-makers on highways, who pretend to be good Samaritans only to cheat the motorists of their hard-earned money.

    Globacom said the new season of the series “is as hot, hilarious and didactic as all the seasons before it”.

    “We want to assure the viewers of Professor Johnbull, which has been rated as the rave of the moment programme on the Network service of NTA, that the new season will give them value for their time,” the statement said.

  • ‘Cyber cafe fraudsters ‘ll face prosecution’

    The National Coordinator of the Cyber-Protection Corps of Nigeria (CPCN), Longe Olarenwaju, at the weekend said hard time awaits cyber cafe fraudsters in the country.

    He cautioned Nigerians against the abuse of social media to prevent cyber menace.

    Olarenwaju, who spoke at a forum on Cyber Crime in Akure, Ondo State capital, noted that it is dangerous for people to give information about their daily activities on the social media for security reasons.

    The agency chief said social media should be used for positive interactions and information sharing.

    He said cybercrime is an illegal activity committed on the Internet with the use of the computer or similar electronic devices.

    The CPCN coordinator said the cyber protection corps investigates issues on cybercrime to expose cybercriminals.

    According to him, the agency has been assisting law enforcement agents to arrest cybercriminals.

    Olanrewaju said CPCN recently trained some members and deployed them in each state in the Southwest to assist in fighting cybercriminals.

    He urged Nigerians to be wary of the antics of cybercriminals, adding that their actions could include spoofing, blackmail, sports betting, child pornography, prostitution and copyright infringement.

    Another Information Communication Technology (ICT) expert with CPCN, Godspower Otali, said people should desist from getting involved in internet financial scheme that make them lose substantial amounts of money.

    Otali cited the Ponzi scheme as an example of scams on the internet, saying it had made many people lose valuables and caused negative effects on the economy.

  • Banks lose N2.19b to fraudsters in 2016, says CBN

    Banks lose N2.19b to fraudsters in 2016, says CBN

    DEPOSIT Money Banks (DMBs) lost N2.19 billion to fraudsters last year, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said yesterday.

    According to the apex bank, 19,531 fraud cases were reported for banks last year as against 10,743 recorded in2015.

    CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele broke the news while unveiling the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum annual report in Abuja.

    The Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum NEFF stakeholders workshop on cybercrime “Tackling Enforcement Challenges under the Cybercrime Act” as its theme.

    A breakdown of the actual amount lost showed that across the counter transactions of N511.07 million accounted for the highest losses.

    This was followed by Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transactions with N464.5 million, internet banking (N320.66 million), Point-of-Sale transaction (N243.32 million) and mobile banking transactions (N235.17) million, among others.

    Speaking on the workshop theme, Emefiele, who was represented by the CBN Deputy Governor, Operations, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, said the challenges faced while enforcing the Cybercrime Act of 2015 had made it imperative for a review of the act.

    He said: “It is now about two years into the commencement of the Act, and so it is not too early to conduct a holistic review of its implementation.

    “Thus, your deliverables at this workshop should include a careful examination of the extent to which the obligations placed by the Act are fulfilled and the general assessment of any challenges experienced in compliance with the provisions of the Act.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Fake UTME questions out for N200,000, JAMB warns

    Fake UTME questions out for N200,000, JAMB warns

    •Board releases results of Saturday examination

    Some syndicate groups are selling past question papers of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for N200,000 to candidates, Registrar, Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Prof. Is-haq Oloyede alleged yesterday.

    Oloyede warned candidates against falling victims to the fraudsters, who claim to have prepared answers to the examination questions being conducted by JAMB.

    He spoke during the monitoring of the ongoing UTME examination with Minister of State for Education Prof. Anthony Anwukah in Abuja.

    Oloyede and Anwukah visited Digital Bridge Institute, Global Learning Institute, Sascon International School and the JAMB CBT Centre in Kogo, Bwari.

    According to him, some of the fraudulent persons simply take past question papers and redesign them by changing the date and then sell same to gullible candidates, who might not have prepared well for the examination.

    He said some candidates fell for the trick, paying huge sums of money to purchase the question papers only to be disappointed on the examination day.

    Oloyede said: “This morning, somebody sent me questions. They call it Orijo and he bought it for N200,000 and when I saw it, it was our questions in 1984 and he just put 2017 on it and started selling it and people are buying it.

    “So, if people are corrupt, I won’t have any sympathy if they are duped by corrupt people like themselves. They are just being wise. They went into the past questions of JAMB and just changed the heading.

    “Somebody else called me and said he had all my questions. I asked him to send them to me and when I checked, I just laughed because none of that was in our questions. What people are just doing, they are making money because people are gullible.

    “We appeal to people to do things according to the rules. No cutting of corners will work with JAMB and that is why many of the candidates who fell for such blackmail are disappointed.”

    The registrar said the board has released the results of the examination conducted on Saturday.

    Oloyede, who expressed satisfaction in the smooth conduct of the examination so far, decried the poor performance of students from the results of Saturday’s examination.

    He said: “The result of UTME has come out and the performance is not too bad. But we are sure that this is the performance now rather than thinking you can get result one way or the other.”

    He said arrangements are being made by the board to transfer its candidates at the two CBT centres in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo State to University of Ilorin to write their examination.

    He said about 440,000 candidates out of the 1.7 million that registered for the UTME sat for the examination on the second day.

    Oloyede added that the examinations would end in Bauchi, Abia, Niger states and some other states yesterday.

    The JAMB registrar added that the UTME would continue in Kebbi, Lagos, Oyo and some other states.

    Prof. Anwukah hailed the board for smooth conduct of the examination.

    The minister called on candidates to put in their best for the UTME and shun any act of malpractices.

    “This is excellent. Everything is in place and everything is going well based on what we have seen. The candidates should do their best and should not cheat. And of course, they cannot cheat,” he said.

     

  • NSCDC arrests six suspected fraudsters, cultists in Ondo

    NSCDC arrests six suspected fraudsters, cultists in Ondo

    Ondo State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Tuesday arrested six persons suspected to be cultists and fraudsters in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

    The spokesman of the command, Kayode Balogun said the suspects who had been terrorizing the people of the state were arrested after a tipoff.

    The suspects are Akeem Oyewole (28), Dupe Adewole (30), Oni Abiodun (33), Abiodun Oladimeji (21), Aron Sunday (20) and Anes John (28).

    According to him, the leader of the gang, Akeem Oyewole was arrested by men of the Corps after successfully duping a student of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo identified as Omokehinde Idowu.

    He said the fraudsters allegedly duped Idowu while on his way to the campus, and took him to their hide out where they collected his #58,000 school fees, a techno phone and wallet which contains school Identity card and Voters card from him.

    The spokesman alleged that the suspects hypnotized a 17-year old, Motunrayo who was asked to bring her parent money for them after being threatened to be killed if she declined their order.

    One of the suspects, Oni Abiodun, according to Balogun was arrested for buying a stolen phone from a member of the gang, while Aron Sunday was arrested for alleged cultism.

    He disclosed that all the suspects were still under investigation and would be charged to court immediately after investigation.

    Balogun warned criminals to steer clear of the state or face the full wrath of the law.

  • RRS operatives arrest suspected fraudsters

    RRS operatives arrest suspected fraudsters

    Men of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested a man, who is alleged to be the kingpin of a syndicate that specialises in defrauding people.

    Segun Akintola, popularly known as Okadigbo, was apprehended by the RRS Decoy Team in his shrine at Ijora over his involvement in a fraud.

    The syndicate duped a woman in Ikorodu last year.

    Preliminary investigation conducted by RRS showed that Okadigbo is the arrow head of different syndicates of fraudsters operating in  Lagos and some parts of Ogun states.

    Until his arrest, four of his accomplices earlier arrested by the operatives of RRS had given him out as their ring–leader.

    The operatives were reported to have been on the lookout for him since last year.

    Okadigbo confessed to RRS that he is a fraudster, but denied being the syndicate leader.

    He told the operatives that he pretended to be an herb seller to deceive his victims.

    RRS quoted him as saying: “It is true they used my shrine. They bring their victims but everybody operated on their own.

    “Although, the fake dollar they use is mine but I don’t know anything about their operation. I operated by selling herbs to people looking for children. I do spiritual bath for clients and defraud them.”

    A gang member, Christian Odokor, in his confessional statement said: “We robbed a woman about a year ago. We took all she had including N300,000 cash and recharge cards of all networks worth N120,000. Okadigbo is our master.

    “All of us, about nine groups that I know report to him. We operated in different parts of the state. He is so powerful and fiery that no policeman dare arrest him. Now, I was shocked seeing him here with us in your custody.”

    Another member of the team, Toyin Idebi, said greed made her joined the gang two years ago.

    Idebi said: “I was a stylist and doing well before I joined them. I like how they were spending money on women. Initially, they were reluctant to tell me their nature of their job. They just told me they were into export and import business. Later, one of them opened up and I joined them”.

    “My main job was to act as someone who was carrying foreign currencies who didn’t know her destination. Though, those currencies were fake but I didn’t know how Okadigbo got them.”

    Recounting her ordeal, the victim said, Joy, said: “A woman flagged me down last Wednesday on my way to market. When I saw the woman sitting and calling passengers I never thought otherwise. Immediately I hopped in and sat down beside her. I saw three other men inside the car.

    “Suddenly as we were progressing, the woman begged me to help her with my phone to make calls. She said   she had no call card on hers. She made two separate calls. As we moved on, the driver detoured to an unknown destination.

    “I asked the driver where he was taken me to, he didn’t respond. Suddenly, he pulled over in the middle of the way and pointed a gun at me. The woman showed me knife. They ransacked my bag and removed the whole money with the recharge cards and sped off.”

    Police spokesperson Dolapo Badmus, a Superintendent (SP), said the command will not rest on its oars until it rids the state of bad elements and reduce the criminal activities.

    The suspects, she said, have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.

  • Two suspected fraudsters held with live snake

    Operatives of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police’ (AIG) Zonal Intervention Squad (ZIS), Onikan, have arrested two suspects for an alleged N5 million fraud.

    Ahmed Fatai Seun and Joseph Adaramola were apprehended last Thursday at Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State, with a live snake and fetish items.

    The suspects were said to have tricked a victim who bought herbal concoction at Ikeja from Fatai.

    It was gathered that the victim was lured into the scam after he spoke with one “Baba” through the telephone, who promised to offer special prosperity prayers for him.

    He was said to have been charged N75million for the charm but paid N5million before he realised what was happening and reported the case to the police.

    According to the zonal spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police (SP), detectives swung into action and arrested the suspects.

    He said: “It was then discovered that the said Baba (Seun) he met in Ijebu-Igbo is the same Fatai, who sold Agbo (concoction) to him in Ikeja. Seun always act like an old man to dupe people.

    “AIG Abdulmajid Ali has directed that the suspects be charged to court without delay.”

  • RRS arrests two suspected fraudsters

    RRS arrests two suspected fraudsters

    Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives yesterday arrested two persons for alleged fraud and robbery. Emmanuel Anyanwu, 39, and Kennedy Ujagbor, 42, were arrested at Cele Bus Stop on Oshodi-Apapa Expressway for allegedly snatching one Sammy Bolaji’s bag.

     It was gathered that the suspects tried to defraud Bolaji on Tuesday but  snatched his bag and fled.

    Bolaji said: “They asked me if I knew a particular address and I told them that I was a stranger in the area. As I made to leave, one of them grabbed my bag from behind and took to his heels. The second one followed suit. I ran after them but they escaped. I had N7,500, two mobile phones, cloths and other personal effects in the bag. I was travelling to Ogun State but had to discontinue the journey after the incident.

    “The following morning, my mum volunteered to drive me around the spot where I was robbed. Luckily, I saw them sipping alcohol not far from the spot where my bag was snatched. I alighted the car to be sure they were the ones.

    “Fortunately, I saw an RRS patrol van passing by and flagged it. The vehicle stopped and I narrated what happened to me to the policemen inside. So, they followed me to the place the guys sat. After interrogating them, the policemen arrested them.”

    Continuing, Bolaji said the suspects confessed that they sold his bag at Ketu, adding that they promised to retrieve it.

    Anyanwu admitted they were swindlers, adding that they usually told their victims they were foreigners with huge consignment of mobile phones and stationery.

    He said: “We would pretend that we were in search of marketers with enough money to buy the goods. In the process, we persuade our victims to show interest in buying the goods by dangling before them an irresistible offer. If they show interest, we tell them to demonstrate their seriousness with a commitment by depositing their phones, money or jewellery. That is how we con them.”

    Contacted, the command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police (SP) said no stone would be left unturned in reducing crime across the state.

    She said they have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Panti-Yaba, for further investigation.