FEATURED
Lekki, Home Of The Rich Now Hotbed of Cyber Crime In Nigeria – EFCC, Arrests 402 Suspects In Three Months
Lekki, the fast-developing upper middle class area of Lagos Metropolis, is emerging as the new hub of internet-related fraud. Data from the investigation activities of the Lagos Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the second quarter of 2021, indicates that Lekki District is the preferred location for all manner of cyber fraud syndicates.
Between April and June, 2021, the Advance Fee Fraud and Cyber Crime Sections of the Command recorded a total of 402 internet-related fraud arrests. While the Advance Fee Fraud Section was responsible for 243 arrests, the Cyber Crime Section executed 18 sting operations which resulted in 159 arrests, from which 13 convictions have so far been recorded.
Of the 159 suspects arrested by the Cyber Crime Section, 70 are from Lekki, comprising communities such as Ajah, Badore, Victoria Garden City, Sangotedo and Oniru.
Ajah accounted for 24 suspects, while Oniru and Sangotedo had 14 and 13 suspects respectively. Badore had 8 suspects. Neighbouring Ikoyi and Eko Atlantic had 2 and one suspect each. Ikorodu and Alagbado on the Lagos Mainland make up the remainder.
The suspects are mostly millennials, with 82 of them aged between 25-34 years, which speaks to the fact that most of the individuals arrested are either still in school, recent graduates or university drop outs.
Analysis of the data from the Cyber Crime Section further shows that the dominant form of internet crime is Dating Scam/Online Dating Scam/Romance Scam. Sixty Four percent (64%) of individuals arrested are involved in romance scam, followed closely by “Middle Man Scam” and “Picking” which account for 8% and 7% respectively of those arrested.
The 64% involved in the dating scam benefitted to the tune of N8, 310,000; $349,290 USD; £ 900; €10 and Cryptocurrency 0.17513.
Other typologies of fraud identified include forgery, possession of fraudulent documents, spamming, credit card fraud, impersonation, rental scam, loan fraud, Business Email Compromise, Hacking, stealing, cheque scam, phishing, and money laundering.
The data also reveals gift cards, at 39%, as the prevalent method employed by the suspects to access their illicit funds. It is followed by bank transfers at 27% and Cryptocurrency at 21%.
A total of $12, 512.49USD was recovered from the e-wallet accounts of four suspects within the period.
(This is an EFCC data analysis)
Obi Faults Tinubu’s Food Security Policies as Nigeria Slides Deeper into Global Hunger Rankings
After Two Years in Custody and a Tragic Loss, Court Rules Okuama Leaders Must Go Free
BREAKING: House of Reps Passes State Police Bill in Historic Security Reform Vote
Tinubu Losing Sleep Over Insecurity, States Must Support Security Efforts — Shagari
Police Foil Driver’s Plot to Kidnap Chinese Businessman for N50M in Ogun
Soldiers, DSS Uncover Cache of Arms from IPOB’S ESN in Enugu
‘Many Legislators Are Having Hypertension’ Over Outcome of APC Primaries – Akpabio Tells APC NWC
UPDATED: Troops Foil Mass Abduction of WAEC Candidates in Kogi, Three Killed in Bandit Attack
Insecurity: Isoko South Boss Hosts Arewa Community Leaders, Security Chiefs to Strategic Meeting
UPDATED: Olero Siege: Itsekiri Chevron Hosts Demand Probe of Peace Breach, Evacuation of Ijaws
“Honorary Degree Holders Cannot Use ‘Dr.’ Title” — FG Unveils Tough New Rules for Universities
INEC Fixes June 16-25 for Party Primaries in Restored State Constituencies in Delta, Others
FG To Receives First Batch of 268 Nigerians Evacuated from South Africa Over Xenophobic Attacks
NCAA Grounds Aircraft After Unauthorized Takeoff Following Emergency Landing in Delta
