11 arrested, $33,320 recovered in Nigeria, Japan crackdown on cybercrime

A coalition of the Nigeria Police Force and the National Police Agency of Japan yielded positive results after a massive crackdown led to the arrest of 11 suspected romance scammers, identity thieves, and other computer-related fraudsters targeting Japanese nationals.

NPF spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi said in a statement that the sum of $33,320 was also recovered after the NPF National Cybercrime Centre, in collaboration with Nigeria’s National Central Bureau and NCB Tokyo, launched an extensive investigation that led to the arrests.

According to him, a detailed report of five cybercrime cases linked to 13 individuals operating from Nigeria triggered the crackdown, uncovering a network that used social media platforms, particularly Instagram, to lure victims into fraudulent romantic relationships.

He added that the victims were deceived into transferring funds via wire transactions, which were later converted into cryptocurrency and funneled into digital wallets in Nigeria.

“The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with the National Police Agency of Japan, has strengthened efforts to combat cybercrime. A press briefing at the NPF-NCCC highlighted the effectiveness of this international partnership, which led to the arrest of 11 suspects involved in identity theft and other cyber-related fraud.

“The subsequent investigation led to the apprehension of eleven individuals and unveiled an extensive network that exploited social media platforms, particularly Instagram, to lure unsuspecting victims into fraudulent romantic relationships.

Victims were duped into transferring funds through wire transactions, which were eventually converted into cryptocurrency and funneled to various digital wallets in Nigeria,” Adejobi stated.