NPF-NCCC cracks down on international fraud syndicate, nabs fake World Bank agent

The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has uncovered and dismantled a cross-border fraud network, arresting a suspect accused of impersonating a World Bank official.

In a statement issued in Abuja, Force spokesperson Anthony Placid said the arrest followed actionable intelligence from the East Africa Sub-Sahara Africa Safe Promotion Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya.

He said the suspect deceived victims by claiming affiliation with the World Bank and other international donors, leading them to part with large sums of money.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the complainants relying on the fraudulent claims, transferred a total 250,000 dollars over three years for purported registration and administrative fees meant to unlock donor funding.

“No funding was ever secured and instead, the suspect organised sham symposiums in Nigeria and South Africa.

“In 2024, he further induced the victims to secure a bank loan against their family property to access a non-existent 850,000 dollars empowerment fund in Ghana,” Placid stated.

The police said financial records confirmed significant inflows from the victims, including 57,975 dollars within a five-month period in 2023.

The suspect was apprehended on March 31, and investigations showed that his organisation, Black Diamond African Beauty Restoration Foundation, was not registered in Nigeria.

He was also found to have registered United African Continent Limited in November 2024 in an attempt to legitimise his operations.

Further findings revealed that the suspect targeted local farmers in Kuje Area Council, collecting N50,000 each under the pretext of empowerment schemes.

In another development, operatives of the cybercrime unit arrested a former staff member of NewLife Ventures Makurdi on April 3 over alleged cyber offences and financial diversion.

According to the police, the suspect admitted diverting customer payments into personal accounts, while items including a Samsung A6 Plus phone and NIN slips were recovered.

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