Massive Arrests in Lagos

Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the arrest of 792 individuals in a significant operation targeting a sophisticated scam network. The suspects, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals, were apprehended on December 10 at the seven-story Big Leaf Building in Lagos, Nigeria's bustling commercial hub.

Operation Details

The luxury building served as a call center, predominantly targeting victims from the Americas and Europe. The EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, detailed how the staff would engage potential victims through social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram. They would either seduce them online or present lucrative investment opportunities.

Once victims were lured in, they were pressured to transfer money for fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes and other non-existent projects. Uwujaren highlighted the collaboration between Nigerian accomplices and foreign kingpins, with Nigerians initially prospecting for victims online, particularly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and Europeans, before handing over the actual fraud to the foreign operators.

Seizures and Ongoing Investigations

During the raid, EFCC agents seized computers, phones, and vehicles. The Commission is now collaborating with international partners to investigate potential links to organized crime. This operation underscores the growing global challenge posed by sophisticated online scams and the importance of international cooperation in tackling them.