Police nab suspected cybercriminal over identity theft, others

The Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has detained a suspect over identity theft, business email compromise (BEC), computer-related fraud and money laundering.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the suspect was arrested on Dec. 20 following an intelligence-led investigation into the activities of a cybercrime syndicate operating on the dark web.

Adejobi said the syndicate specialises in compromising business emails to defraud companies and divert funds for personal use, targeting prominent companies globally to perpetrate their crimes.

According to him, during interrogation, the suspect confessed to compromising business conversations, customers’ email addresses and passwords as well as diverting funds to their syndicate.

The police spokesman said thousands of compromised email credentials and login details were recovered from the suspect’s Skype account.

He said the suspect also disclosed that the syndicate has members across the globe, adding that communication and transactions among them were conducted exclusively through Skype.

Adejobi said this had made their operations highly elusive.

He said efforts were currently being intensified to track and apprehend the head of the syndicate and other members, currently at large.

Adejobi reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to combating cybercrime, dominating the cyberspace and ensuring that all perpetrators were made to face the full wrath of the law.

He enjoined the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to law enforcement agencies promptly.

In a related development, Adejobi said operative of the NPF-NCCC had also arrested a suspect for allegedly facilitating cybercrime.

He said the suspect specialises in fraudulent opening and renting of bank accounts used by cybercriminals to receive funds from a WhatsApp hacking syndicate.

Adejobi said the suspect uses his girlfriend’s personal information to open multiple accounts with a large digital bank in Nigeria and rented them to cybercriminals.

“The cyber criminals hack WhatsApp accounts belonging to prominent Nigerians, including Senators and Ministers, to solicit for funds from their contacts under false pretences.

“Upon investigation, the suspect admitted knowing that the accounts would be used for fraud but claimed he believed the victims were foreigners, despite receiving all payments in Naira,” he said.

Adejobi said investigation had revealed that the suspect usually takes his cut of the proceeds before transferring the rest to his clients.

He said the suspect would be charged to court for criminal conspiracy, impersonation and computer-related fraud.