A shocking romance scam operation involving foreign nationals has been uncovered in Lagos, Nigeria. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recently arrested 792 suspects linked to romance scam syndicates, including 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, and others.
Investigations revealed that the foreign nationals were operating from a building in the Ori-Eru area of Lagos, where they recruited and trained Nigerian accomplices to perpetrate fraudulent activities.
Details of the Scam:
- The foreign nationals paid their Nigerian recruits N300,000 monthly and N80,000 weekly to carry out romance scams.
- The recruits were provided with food and accommodation.
- The scammers operated on a shift basis, with some working in the morning, afternoon, and night.
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A Resident’s Account:
A security guard in the building, Ahmed, revealed that the foreigners had rented the building for five years but were arrested after just three months. He described how the EFCC operatives raided the building, using over 30 buses to transport the suspects.
Reactions and Investigations:
The EFCC has confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with operatives exploring different angles. A senior source with the EFCC stated that the agency needs to determine the immigration status of the suspects and their criminal records in their countries.
The spokesman for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, said, “Investigation is ongoing. They were not into crypto as it is being said in some quarters. We will update the media at the end of our investigation.”
The incident has raised concerns about the increasing involvement of foreign nationals in romance scams in Nigeria.
Source: Punch
