In today’s digital world, it’s hard to escape the reach of scammers, especially when they use popular social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram to deceive people. Recently, Nigeria’s anti-graft agency uncovered a massive fraud operation that had been using these platforms to trick people into losing their money. This international scam targeted individuals across the Americas and Europe, luring them with promises of romance and fake investment opportunities.
On December 10, Nigerian authorities arrested 792 people after raiding a building in Lagos, the country’s commercial hub. The building, known as the Big Leaf Building, served as the base for the scam.
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According to Wilson Uwujaren, spokesperson for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the suspects included 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, and several Nigerians who were involved in the fraudulent activities.
The scammers used social media platforms, particularly WhatsApp and Instagram, to reach out to potential victims, reports Reuters. They would initially contact people with friendly messages, often pretending to be interested in a romantic relationship. Once they gained the victim’s trust, they would introduce fake cryptocurrency investment schemes or other non-existent projects. The victims were then pressured to send money for these fake schemes.
“Nigerian accomplices were recruited by the foreign kingpins to prospect for victims online through phishing, targeting mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and several others from European countries,” Uwujaren explained. “Once the Nigerians are able to win the confidence of would-be victims, the foreigners would take over the actual task of defrauding the victims.”
The Commission has since seized computers, phones, and vehicles from the operation. The authorities are working with international partners to investigate the full extent of the scam and its possible connections to organised crime.
This raid highlights the growing dangers of online fraud, especially through social media. As we continue to use platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram to connect with others, it’s important to stay vigilant and aware of the potential risks of online scams.