EFCC Arrests 148 Chinese, 40 Filipinos in Nigeria’s Largest Cyberfraud Crackdown
In an operation being described as one of Nigeria’s largest crackdowns on cybercrime, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 792 suspects, including 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, two individuals from Kharzartan, one Pakistani, and one Indonesian, for their alleged involvement in cryptocurrency investment fraud and romance scams.
The suspects were apprehended during a surprise raid on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at the Big Leaf Building, a seven-storey edifice located at No. 7, Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. Speaking at a media briefing on Monday, December 16, 2024, the Executive Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, described the operation as a major breakthrough in dismantling international cybercrime networks operating within Nigeria.
“All the floors are equipped with high-end desktop computers. On the 5th floor alone, investigators recovered 500 SIM cards of local telcos that were bought for criminal purposes,” Olukoyede revealed.
The EFCC boss, represented by Wilson Uwujaren, the Commission’s Director of Public Affairs, explained that the building—imposing enough to be mistaken for a financial establishment—served as a training ground for the Nigerian accomplices recruited by the foreign kingpins.
According to him, “Their 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.”
The syndicate operated a sophisticated system where the Nigerian recruits, chosen for their computer proficiency, were trained to impersonate foreign women and engage in romance and investment scam chats.
“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 and proceed to block their Nigerian accomplices from the network. This would then leave them in the dark about the transaction,” Olukoyede explained.
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A major tool of their operation was a purported online investment platform named “yooto.com,” through which victims were lured into fraudulent investment schemes. “For those who show interest, activation fees for an account on the platform starts from $35 USD,” he said.
Olukoyede emphasized that the Nigerians involved were deliberately kept in the dark about the true nature of their employers.
“They do not know the owners of the ‘company’ they work for because they are not offered letters of appointment or receive payment from a corporate account,” he stated, adding that wages were typically paid in cash or via private accounts.
The EFCC boss used the occasion to challenge misconceptions about the origins of cybercrime in Nigeria.
“Foreigners are taking advantage of our nation’s unfortunate reputation as a haven of frauds to establish a foothold here to disguise their atrocious criminal enterprises. But, as this operation has shown, there will be no hiding places for criminals in Nigeria,” he affirmed.
During the briefing, Michael Wetkas, the acting Zonal Director of the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Commission, called for stronger collaboration with the media to expose economic and financial crimes, saying, “We cannot do this alone. The fight against corruption requires the support of all stakeholders, including the media.”
The EFCC recovered several items during the raid, including desktop computers, mobile phones, laptops, and cars. Investigations into the extent of the scam and its international connections are ongoing.
The Commission also revealed that they were working closely with international partners to uncover any collaboration between the syndicate and organized global fraud cells.
Olukoyede reiterated the EFCC’s commitment to eradicating cybercrime and protecting Nigeria’s reputation on the global stage. “This operation is a clear message to fraudsters, both local and foreign, that their days are numbered. We will not relent until we rid this country of all economic and financial crimes.”
The arrested suspects are expected to face prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.
