The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre has uncovered and dismantled a sophisticated cross-border fraud syndicate, arresting a suspect who allegedly posed as a World Bank official to defraud victims across multiple countries.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Placid, the breakthrough followed credible intelligence from the East Africa Sub-Sahara Africa Safe Promotion Foundation, a Nairobi-based NGO. The intelligence exposed a scheme that targeted unsuspecting individuals under the guise of international development funding.
Investigations revealed that the suspect falsely claimed affiliation with the World Bank and other foreign donor agencies. Victims, including individuals introduced through contacts in Kenya, reportedly transferred a total of $250,000 over three years as so-called registration and administrative fees for access to non-existent grants.
Rather than deliver on promises, the suspect allegedly organised fake symposiums in Nigeria and South Africa to maintain credibility, while continuing to extract funds. In a particularly alarming twist, victims were reportedly persuaded in 2024 to secure bank loans using family property as collateral, in anticipation of an $850,000 “empowerment fund” in Ghana that never existed.
Financial analysis by investigators confirmed multiple inflows from victims, including nearly $58,000 received within a five-month period in 2023. The suspect was arrested on March 31, and authorities discovered that one of his organisations, Black Diamond African Beauty Restoration Foundation, was not registered in Nigeria.
In what police described as an attempt to legitimise his activities, the suspect reportedly registered another entity, United African Continent Limited, in November 2024.
The scope of the fraud extended beyond international victims. Local farmers in Kuje Area Council, Abuja, were also targeted, each allegedly paying ₦50,000 for fictitious empowerment and training programmes.
In a separate but related cybercrime case, operatives of the NPF-NCCC arrested another suspect accused of insider fraud involving NewLife Ventures. The individual allegedly diverted company funds through personal accounts and engaged in unauthorised system manipulation. Items recovered included a mobile phone and identification documents.
The police say investigations are ongoing, as authorities continue efforts to dismantle cybercrime networks exploiting both local and international victims.
The latest arrests highlight the growing sophistication of fraud operations and the urgent need for vigilance, particularly in dealings involving international funding and digital transactions