One of the three Nigerian online fraudsters arrested by Cyber Crimes Police of Cyberabad in New Delhi for duping several people in the name of fake lottery, is a former police officer of Nigeria.
In early June, a lady from Malkajgiri woke up by an SMS alert which stated her mobile number had won Rs 3.6 crore in Samsung Lottery and asked her to provide her address and bank details to receive the money. She was elated at the news and sent details as sought by sender of the SMS over email. The very next day, she got a mail from James Morgan, the so-called director of the Samsung Company, confirming the winning of lottery. He told her that the RBI officials of India would contact her for smooth transfer of lottery amount in her bank account.
Later, she received an email from www.rbinedelhi@linuxmail.org confirming the lottery and suggested her to deposit money in different bank accounts on pretext of clearance of Income Tax, anti-terrorist certificate, Customs clearance and so on. Accordingly, she deposited a total of Rs 15,50,800 expecting the lottery money. When the fraudsters kept on asking her to deposit money continuously, she got suspicious and approached the Cyber Crimes Police Station Cyberabad.
On receipt of the complaint, ACP S. Jayaram of Cyber Crimes, registered a case under relevant penal sections and Information Technology Act and entrusted investigation to Mohamad Riyazuddin Inspector. The investigators identified that a gang of Nigerian fraudsters were operating from Mahaveer Nagar area in New Delhi.
A special team went to New Delhi and nabbed athree Nigerians — Odidi Onoriode Walsh, 31, Nkemachor Anthony, 33, and Wzenwaobasi Gospel Ikenna, 28, and seized five laptops, 10 mobile phones, eight Internet data cards, 53 active SIM Cards and cash of Rs 1,50,000 from their possession. The accused were brought to Hyderabad on a transit warrant issued by CMM Tis Hazari Court New Delhi.
From the analysis of the laptops and mobiles, it came to light that they called 99,584 persons through SMSes and emails by informing them that their mobile number won the lottery and some of them fell into their trap and got cheated. It is learnt the accused landed in India on business visa in 2013 valid for two months only. Later, they created fake Indian visas of multiple entries and pasted on their passports. If any local police man (in New Delhi) asks them about their travel documents, they used to show the fake visa pasted on their passports and staying illegally. The accused were produced before the XVI ACM at Miyapur and got them remanded to judicial custody. The case is being investigated by Mohammad Riyazuddin, Inspector, Cyber Crimes Cyberabad under the supervision of S. Jayaram, ACP and Dr Naveen Kumar, IPS, OSD Crimes. The victims are advised to contact the I.O. over mobile No. 9490617437.
Cyberabad Police Commissioner C.V. Anand IPS, appreciated the efforts of investigating team in nabbing the accused. (NSS)
Three Nigerians held for online cheating
