The Port Harcourt Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered a total sum of N1,674,891,899.00 from 33 convicted Internet fraudsters so far in 2018.
TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Zonal Head of the commission, Mr. Nnaghe Obono Itam, disclosed this on Thursday in a news conference in Port Harcourt, where he also disclosed the commission recently arrested ten suspected Internet fraudsters.
He said the fraudsters were arrested in different locations and at different times across Port Harcourt, Warri and Asaba in a sting operation.
According to the EFCC, the suspects are Alia Jamike Chinemerem, Ogbiugba Ifeany Henry, Uchanna Cyril, Samuel Obomovo, Israel Ogagaoghene, Israel Diaso, Aghariagbonse Destiny, Aretuemhen Frank, Paul Esibhakpen and Loius Idehen.
“Investigations showed that the suspects were involved in love scam with many of them purporting to be officers of American Army.
“Various scam mails where the suspects posed as officers of US Army were traced to them.
“One of the suspects, Israel Diasco had successfully defrauded an Indian lady, Promilla Lama of huge amount of money still being verified.
“Another, Chinemerem, (alias Good Thaddy) confessed to be a picker,” the commission stated.
A picker is a fraudster that provides foreign accounts to other Internet fraudsters which they usually used to receive money from any unfortunate victim.
A picker is allegedly paid 30% of the total amount received in any of such accounts, according to the arrested fraudsters.
The Zonal Head of the commission also disclosed that the EFCC recovered $552,368. 55 and 5,225 Euros in the year from convicted fraudsters.