The International Police Organisation has announced the arrest of a Nigerian behind an online fraud network, which engineered scams worth more than $60 million.
Simply identified as Mike, the fraudster was arrested in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, with the assistance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
“The 40-year-old Nigerian national, known as ‘Mike’, is believed to be behind scams totalling more than $60 million involving hundreds of victims worldwide,” INTERPOL said in a statement on Monday.
“In one case, a target was conned into paying out $15.4 million,” INTERPOL said, adding: “The network compromised email accounts of small to medium businesses around the world including in Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, Romania, South Africa, Thailand and the United States.”
Mike was said to have a network of at least 40 people working from Nigeria, Malaysia and South Africa, using malware to carry out the fraud.
He also had money laundering contacts in China, Europe and the US, who provided bank account details for the illicit cash flow.
INTERPOL added: “Following his arrest in Port Harcourt in southern Nigeria, a forensic examination of devices seized by the EFCC showed he had been involved in a range of criminal activities including business e-mail compromise and romance scams.”
Mike and a fellow fraudster, who was also arrested in Port Harcourt, face charges including hacking, conspiracy and obtaining money under false pretences.
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