A collaborative operation between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Japan’s National Police Agency has resulted in the arrest of 11 individuals involved in a range of cybercrimes, including identity theft, romance scams, and computer-related fraud targeting Japanese victims.
The operation followed a report received on April 3, 2024, detailing multiple cybercrime cases that implicated 13 individuals operating from Nigeria.
The suspects were linked to fraudulent activities conducted over social media platforms, primarily Instagram, where they lured victims into fake romantic relationships to exploit them financially.
A statement released by the NPF spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed that the NPF’s National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC), in collaboration with Nigeria’s National Central Bureau (NCB) and NCB Tokyo, launched a comprehensive investigation that led to the arrests.
“The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with the National Police Agency of Japan, has strengthened efforts to combat cybercrime, This international partnership has proven effective, leading to the apprehension of 11 suspects involved in various forms of cyber-related fraud, including identity theft and romance scams.” Adejobi said in a press briefing.
According to Adejobi, the cybercriminals used social media to develop fraudulent relationships with their victims, ultimately convincing them to transfer large sums of money.
The funds were then converted into cryptocurrency and funnelled into digital wallets based in Nigeria.
“The investigation revealed that victims were deceived into sending money through wire transfers, which was subsequently converted into cryptocurrency. These funds were then directed to digital wallets controlled by the suspects in Nigeria,” Adejobi added.
So far, authorities have recovered $33,320 from the arrested suspects, with further efforts underway to trace additional stolen funds.
The police are also working to dismantle the entire syndicate responsible for the fraud.
“The preliminary investigation has led to the recovery of $33,320. Ongoing efforts are focused on reclaiming additional stolen funds and fully dismantling the network behind these crimes,” Adejobi confirmed.
The success of this operation highlights the growing international cooperation in addressing cross-border cybercrime, as the NPF and Japan’s National Police Agency continue to bolster their efforts to combat digital fraud and safeguard victims from increasingly sophisticated online scams.
