EFCC arrests 6 suspected internet fraudsters

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested six suspected internet fraudsters in separate raids carried out in Abuja.

Acting Head Media and Publicity of the Commission, Mr Tony Orilade, listed the suspects as Chemezie Ezeife, Onwochei John, Onwochei Joel, Marvin Nwankwo, Prince Ojenike, and Jude Olatekobowale.

He said they were arrested following a tip-off.

In statement in Abuja, yesterday, Orilade said that Ezeife was arrested on Jan.16, at the Life Camp residential area in Abuja following intelligence reports of shady activities traced to him.

Among items recovered from him were a Mercedes Benz C300, Toyota Camry and Lexus Jeep, Seagate hard drive, four laptop computers, an ECOWAS international passport, various wrist watches, Two iPhones and Blackberry phones, and a Samsung phone.

“Several suspicious emails were also traced to his account.

“Investigation into the activities of another syndicate traced to the Nova Estate in Apo, led to the arrest of Joel and John Onwechei, both brothers.

“John the younger of the brothers confessed that he got involved in internet fraud as a student of the Delta State University.

“He successfully defrauded one Miss Lynese from Zambia, using Facebook in the guise that he is one Carlos Gomes, a British citizen.

“Among items found in his possession include an iPhone 6 and iPhone 7, and he confessed to having a landed property in Benin, Edo State, all of which he acquired for N1 million he made from internet fraud.

“Two laptop computers, a white Range Rover Sport, white Mercedes Benz E350, and a grey Toyota Camry were also recovered from him.

“His brother Joel confessed that he got into yahoo-yahoo  through his brother, and asked him to teach him how to go about love scam.

“Thereafter, he tried to create an email account, but he was unsuccessful, ” the EFCC spokesman said.