Police Arrest Suspect in N5.7 Million Facebook Fraud Case

The Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) arrested a suspect involved in a N5.7 million fraud case linked to identity theft and money laundering. The arrest followed a complaint from a university lecturer in Akwa Ibom, who was defrauded after negotiating a purchase on WhatsApp. The suspect induced the victim to transfer funds to various fintech accounts, after which the goods were never delivered, and the victim was blocked. The police, with assistance from Meta Inc, traced the suspect to Katsina State, where he was apprehended, and the total amount was recovered. Ongoing investigations aim to further address the case and prevent future incidents. The Inspector-General of Police emphasized the importance of verifying seller credentials on social media.

Key Points: • A suspect was arrested for defrauding a lecturer of N5.7 million through Facebook and WhatsApp. • The fraud involved identity theft and money laundering, with funds transferred to fintech accounts. • The Nigeria Police Force is committed to combating cybercrime and urges caution in online transactions.