EFCC Cracks Down on International Cybercrime Syndicate, Arrests 792 Suspects in Lagos

Our reporter

In an unprecedented anti-cybercrime operation, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 792 suspects linked to a sprawling network of cryptocurrency and romance fraud schemes.

The arrests took place on Monday, December 16, 2024, in a seven-storey building located in Victoria Island, Lagos, marking the agency’s largest single-day operation to date. 

 

Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC spokesperson, revealed during a press briefing that the suspects included 114 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, two individuals from Khazartan, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian. According to Uwujaren, these foreign nationals were using the building as a training hub to coach Nigerians on how to conduct romance and investment scams. 

 

The crackdown unveiled a highly sophisticated operation. Each floor of the building was equipped with advanced desktop computers, and over 500 SIM cards from Nigerian telecommunications networks were recovered. “These foreign syndicate leaders provided their Nigerian recruits with the tools and instructions to target victims globally,” Uwujaren said. 

 

The Nigerian accomplices reportedly created fake social media profiles and were trained to establish romantic relationships and investment discussions online, preying on victims from countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, and across Europe. The operation also relied on phishing logs, which gave the suspects access to foreign communication lines. 

 

One of the key platforms used in the scheme was identified as www.yooto.com, a fraudulent investment site where victims were persuaded to register accounts with activation fees starting at $35. The accomplices, Uwujaren explained, engaged victims through WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram, often using accounts linked to international phone numbers from countries like Germany and Italy. 

 

The EFCC stated that the suspects are currently being held in custody with a valid remand warrant and will face charges soon. Uwujaren described the operation as a “huge blow” to international cybercriminal networks operating in Nigeria, adding that the EFCC remains committed to dismantling such syndicates. 

 

“This operation is a strong warning to cybercriminals operating within and beyond our borders. We are coming for them,” Uwujaren concluded. 

 

The arrests highlight the growing sophistication of cybercrime networks and the international collaboration often required to combat them. The EFCC urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious online activities.