The Uyo Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested 12 suspected internet fraudsters in Calabar, Cross River State; and Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The suspects are: Ahmed Adelakun, Matthew Edafe, Chukwuma Edwin Chisom, Mbang Prince, Ogon Godspower and Nnamdi Ogana.
Others are: Abasiama Essien, Phiona Ekok Osim, Gabriel David, Ugochukwu Onuabuchi, Raphael Bassey and Etim Stephen.
Chisom was arrested at Ukpei street, off Abak Road, Uyo, while others were nabbed at various locations, including 110, Victory Way Extension, Satellite Town in Calabar.
While admitting to the crime, the suspects during interrogation availed operatives information about how they operated.
Investigations showed that they were into various cybercrime activities such as love scam, online Bitcoin trading scam and identity theft.
Their modus operandi include sourcing for victims in Facebook and Instagram and claiming to be United States military personnel in other countries who could not access their money.
They make their victims give them gift cards, which they change to Bitcoin and then to naira.
Items recovered from them included Toyota Matrix, Lexus, Toyota Camry, various sophisticated phones and laptops