TOP STORY: EFCC Reveals The Hottest Cybercrime Location In Nigeria
Afnews Editor
Sep 03, 2021
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the Lekki area of Lagos a cybercrime hotbed.
READ ALSO: Bloodbath At Wedding: Bandits Kill 13, Abduct Many In Midnight Attack In Kaduna Community
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren in a statement said this followed data from investigation activities of the Lagos Command in the second quarter of 2021.
READ ALSO: Valedictory Session: And OUK Wept | WATCH VIDEO
Between April and June, 2021, the Advance Fee Fraud and Cyber Crime Sections of the Command recorded a total of 402 internet-related fraud arrests.
READ ALSO: "Ikwuano Locked Down For Alex Otti" - Monday Ubani SAN Sends Strong Message To Opposition
The Advance Fee Fraud Section was responsible for 243 arrests while the Cyber Crime Section executed 18 sting operations which resulted in 159 arrests; 13 convictions have been recorded.
READ ALSO: DEEP REVELATION: BUHARI'S THIRD TERM AGENDA STARTED IN SEPTEMBER, FALANA OPEN UP
The agency confirmed that of 159 suspects arrested by the Cyber Crime Section, 70 were from Lekki, comprising areas such as Ajah, Badore, Victoria Garden City (VGC), Sangotedo and Oniru.
READ ALSO: PSquare Saga: Peter Okoye Reveals How Brother, Jude Allegedly Siphoned 1.38 Billion
Ajah accounted for 24 suspects, while Oniru and Sangotedo had 14 and 13 suspects respectively. Badore had 8 suspects.
READ ALSO: Ofuji Ndị Igbo Sets 2026 Agenda, Promises Greater Community Engagement
Neighbouring Ikoyi and Eko Atlantic had 2 and 1 suspect each. Ikorodu and Alagbado on the Lagos Mainland make up the remainder.
The suspects are mostly millennials, with 82 aged between 25-34 years. Individuals arrested are either still in school, recent graduates or university dropouts.
READ ALSO: 2023 PRESIDENCY: Why Atiku Abubakar Is The Best Of All Aspirants - Dino Melaye |VIDEO
The data from the Cyber Crime Section further shows that the dominant form of internet crime is Dating Scam/Online Dating Scam/Romance Scam.
"64% of individuals arrested are involved in romance scam, followed closely by "Middle Man Scam" and "Picking" which account for 8% and 7% respectively of those arrested.
READ ALSO: How a Catholic Priest Slumped and Died While Delivering Homily in Delta Church
"The 64% involved in the dating scam benefitted to the tune of N8, 310,000; $349,290 USD; ┬ú 900; Ôé¼10 and Cryptocurrency 0.17513", Uwujaren noted.
READ ALSO: AC Milan join Jay Z's Roc Nation management
Other typologies of fraud identified include forgery, possession of fraudulent documents, spamming, credit card fraud, impersonation, rental scam, loan fraud, Business Email Compromise, hacking, stealing, cheque scam, phishing, and money laundering.
READ ALSO: Mother's Day: Abia Government Liaison Officer Honours Women, Says Mothers Shape Future Leaders
Gift cards, at 39%, was detected as the prevalent method employed by the suspects to access their illicit funds. It is followed by bank transfers at 27% and cryptocurrency at 21%.
READ ALSO: Bloodbath At Wedding: Bandits Kill 13, Abduct Many In Midnight Attack In Kaduna Community
Also within the second quarter, a total of $12,512 was recovered from the e-wallet accounts of four suspects.
READ ALSO: Valedictory Session: And OUK Wept | WATCH VIDEO
EFCC arrests 44 suspected internet fraudsters in Lagos
Related Stories
Bloodbath At Wedding: Bandits Kill 13, Abduct Many In Midnight Attack In Kaduna Community
"Ikwuano Locked Down For Alex Otti" - Monday Ubani SAN Sends Strong Message To Opposition
Mother's Day: Abia Government Liaison Officer Honours Women, Says Mothers Shape Future Leaders
Why ICPC Is Prosecuting Mike Ozekhome Over a London Property Deal That Has Shaken Nigeria's Legal Circle | READ DETAILS
Ofuji Ndị Igbo Sets 2026 Agenda, Promises Greater Community Engagement
How a Catholic Priest Slumped and Died While Delivering Homily in Delta Church
""
— Afnews Editor