Authorities in India have arrested three Nigerian nationals in Delhi for allegedly defrauding an Indian woman of over ₹2.62 lakh through an elaborate online scam.
The suspects, identified as Lezhu John, Gibril Mohammed, and Egboola Ekena, were detained following a complaint filed by the victim, who had connected with one of the suspects on Instagram. The accused reportedly used fake identities, including one posing as a U.S. chemical engineer, to build trust with the woman.
The victim was tricked into transferring money under the pretense of helping with various financial needs, including a supposed parcel containing U.S. dollars. Investigations revealed that the suspects used over 500 bank accounts for fraudulent activities, with more than 900 complaints tied to these accounts across India.
Police tracked the suspects using bank transaction details and discovered numerous fake social media profiles stored on their devices. The trio now faces potential charges under India’s Information Technology Act and Penal Code, with a minimum three-year prison sentence if convicted.
The case highlights the growing prevalence of cybercrime and the efforts of law enforcement to combat it.