The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended Chimereze Chinedu on charges of defrauding a Thai national of $216,000 and N30 million. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this information in a statement posted on X.com on Tuesday.
According to Hundeyin, Chinedu allegedly promised to supply the victim with 37 tricycles, valued at $216,000. However, he failed to deliver on this promise. To further deceive the victim and extort additional funds, Chinedu reportedly forged letters from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). These fake documents claimed that the tricycles had been seized by the police.
Using these forged documents, Chinedu managed to obtain another N30 million from the victim, ostensibly to secure the release of the purportedly seized tricycles.
“Chimereze defrauded his victim under the pretence of selling 37 tricycles to her,” Hundeyin stated. “He further expanded his fraudulent activity by forging letters from the SCID, Lagos, showing that the tricycles were seized by the police and extorted N30 million from the victim to purportedly secure their release.”
Following weeks of investigation and collaboration with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), Chinedu was arrested on May 10, 2024, in Enugu State. Hundeyin also noted that efforts are ongoing to apprehend Chinedu’s accomplices, emphasizing the command’s commitment to combating internet fraud.
In related news, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 15 suspected internet fraudsters in Zaria, Kaduna State. The EFCC’s statement on X.com revealed that the suspects were apprehended near Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, following credible intelligence linking them to internet fraud activities.
The EFCC operatives acted swiftly on the intelligence received, leading to the arrest of the suspects in the university’s vicinity.
The Lagos State Police Command and the EFCC’s recent actions underscore their dedication to tackling fraud and cybercrime in Nigeria.