Nigeria: Int’l cyber‑scam ring busted in Delta, seven arrested

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

The Nigeria Police Force has dismantled an international cyber‑scam hub operating from Agbor, Delta State, arresting seven suspects linked to a large‑scale online investment fraud that targeted victims in Nigeria, the United Kingdom and other nations.

According to Force Public Relations Officer CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the operation was executed by the Police National Cybercrime Center (NPF‑NCC) in partnership with the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) and with intelligence support from Meta. Investigations revealed that the syndicate created fake social‑media profiles to impersonate reputable cryptocurrency traders, luring unsuspecting investors into fraudulent schemes.

The group, led by Collins Ogwuorie, allegedly purchased about 500 social‑media accounts from online vendors and distributed them among members for coordinated spamming, impersonation and victim engagement. Each member was assigned specific tasks such as account management and online interaction. The suspects also ran a bogus Facebook page titled “Retirement Strategies: Real Estate and Market Insights,” posting fabricated testimonials to entice victims.

During the raid, detectives recovered 26 mobile phones, 42 SIM cards and one laptop believed to have been used in the crimes. The arrested individuals are: Collins Ogwuorie, Christian Ogwuorie, Gbenoba Emmanuel, Samuel Olufemi, Collins Victor, Onyeka Emenem and Kefas Ogunbor.

Police say investigations are ongoing and have urged the public to exercise caution, verify the legitimacy of online investment platforms, and report suspicious activity.