No fewer than six suspected internet fraudsters were arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes, Commission, EFCC, at their hotel hideout in Rumuigbo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Also, 13 suspects were arrested by the operatives of the commission in the Enugu Zonal Office following involvement in cyber crime and internet fraud.
In a statement issued by the spokesman of the EFCC, Tony Orilade, on Sunday, the fraudsters in Rivers State were arrested during a sting operation.
The suspects – four men and two women – are Oghenekewe Akinnawo, Kemka Amadi, Revelation Macaulay, Damilola Oyinloye, Mary Ndubuisi and Jennifer Vandi.
The EFCC spokesman who said the operatives acted on intelligence report, said the suspects were involved in fraudulent activities bordering on love scam, obtaining money by false pretences and other cases.
Upon arrest, he said, items recovered from them upon arrest included three exotic cars, four iPhones, four laptops; one iPad, one iron sealed stamp; cheque books, car number plates and two un-used bullets.
In the arrest made by the Enugu zonal office, three of the suspects were arrested at Awka, Anambra State.
Six were arrested at Ngwo in Enugu State, while four were arrested at an estate in Abakpa area of Enugu State.
Items recovered from them include nine exotic cars, laptops, printers, cameras, phones, expensive drinks and other personal effects.
Speaking on the arrests made, the Zonal Head of the South East Zone of the commission, Ahmed Usman, said the operations, which were based on intelligence reports were to bring an end to internet fraud and redeem the country’s image.
Said he: “Apart from public corruption which affects us locally, and denies us access to basic social amenities, Nigerians are treated badly because of the activities of cyber criminals and this gives us a bad name internationally.
“We are determined to stamp that out.”
