(ReclaimingAmerica.net) – In a shocking revelation of international cybercrime, Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested nearly 800 individuals for seducing victims over social media, pressuring them to transfer money, known as “pig butchering.”
See the tweet below.
This operation exposes how foreign criminals are exploiting Nigeria’s reputation to set up sophisticated fraud networks, targeting innocent Americans and others worldwide.
The EFCC’s operation in Lagos uncovered a seven-story building that served as the hub for this criminal enterprise.
Among the 792 arrested were 148 Chinese and 40 Filipinos, alongside hundreds of Nigerians.
This multinational syndicate was running a complex “pig butchering” scam, combining romance fraud with cryptocurrency investment schemes to fleece unsuspecting victims.
“Nigerian accomplices were recruited by the foreign kingpins to prospect for victims online through phishing, targeting mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans and several others from European countries,” said EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwajuren.
Moreover, the operation revealed a disturbing pattern: foreign kingpins recruited Nigerian accomplices to lure victims through social media platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram.
Once trust was established, the foreign scammers took over to complete the fraud, isolating their Nigerian pawns from the actual transactions.
This revelation should serve as a wake-up call to Americans about the evolving nature of international cybercrime.
No longer confined to Nigerian princes asking for bank details, these scams now involve sophisticated operations run by Chinese crime syndicates expanding into countries with weaker cybersecurity laws.
The EFCC’s raid uncovered an arsenal of high-tech equipment, including hundreds of SIM cards and advanced computers, all used to create fake profiles and sham investment websites.
As the EFCC works with international partners to investigate potential links to organized crime, it is clear that this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Reports indicate a 496% increase in fraud losses in Nigeria’s digital payment system from 2019 to 2023, indicating that these scams are not only growing but evolving at an alarming rate.
In addition, Americans must remain vigilant and skeptical of online romantic advances or too-good-to-be-true investment opportunities, especially those involving cryptocurrency.
Hundreds arrested in Nigeria over crypto-romance scam pic.twitter.com/xYLgfkNmFH
— SilencedSirs◼️ (@SilentlySirs) December 17, 2024
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