|
Listen to article
|
Indian police have arrested two Nigerian nationals in Gurgaon over an alleged cyber fraud scheme that involved impersonating company directors on WhatsApp to trick employees into transferring large sums of money.
Operatives of the Gurgaon Police cybercrime unit said the suspects posed as senior executives of Indian companies and pressured staff members to make urgent financial transfers to bank accounts controlled by the syndicate.
The suspects were identified as Ojo Uyiosa and another Nigerian known as James, according to a report published Wednesday by The Times of India. Police said both men were arrested last Saturday following an investigation linked to a suspicious phone number used in the fraud.
Investigators disclosed that Uyiosa entered India in 2014 on a student visa, while James arrived in 2023 on a tourist visa. The pair allegedly worked with other Nigerian nationals to execute the scheme, sharing proceeds after successful transfers.
Read Also: Nigeria Customs Officer Killed In Ogun Smuggling Ambush
Police said victims were deceived into transferring about 1 million rupees—equivalent to more than ₦15 million—into a Bandhan Bank account connected to the operation. The account had reportedly been flagged in at least two previous cybercrime complaints before the arrests.
According to investigators, further interrogation revealed that the suspects were linked to multiple fraud cases using a similar impersonation tactic. The cybercrime unit said the group primarily relied on WhatsApp to communicate with victims, while accomplices arranged bank accounts to receive the illicit funds.
A formal case was filed, and the suspects were arraigned in court on Sunday. They were remanded in police custody for three days to allow investigators to expand the probe.
Read Also: US Troop Deployed To Nigeria In A Counterterrorism Cooperation
Police recovered two mobile phones and three SIM cards allegedly used in carrying out the fraud. Authorities said efforts are ongoing to trace additional assets, identify other members of the network, and determine the full scale of the operation.
The arrests come amid heightened scrutiny of cybercrime in India, as law enforcement agencies intensify efforts to combat online fraud targeting corporate employees and financial institutions.
