Nigeria's anti-graft agency has made a significant move by arresting 792 suspects in a raid on a building suspected to be a hub for fraudsters. This operation, carried out on December 10 in Lagos, the commercial capital, has brought to light a complex web of fraud activities. The suspects, including 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals, were detained at the seven-storey Big Leaf Building.

How the Fraud Scheme Operated

Inside the luxury building, there was a call centre mainly targeting victims from the Americas and Europe. Staff would make contact with people through social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram. They would seduce victims online or offer them seemingly lucrative investment opportunities. Once victims were hooked, they were pressured to transfer money for fake cryptocurrency schemes and other non-existent projects. Nigerian accomplices were recruited by foreign kingpins to prospect for victims online through phishing, mainly targeting Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and several others from European countries. Once the Nigerians won the victims' confidence, the foreigners would take over the actual task of defrauding them.

Details of the Raid

During the raid, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's agents seized a significant amount of evidence. Computers, phones, and vehicles were all taken into custody. This shows the seriousness with which the agency is approaching the fight against fraud. By seizing these items, they are able to gather more evidence and potentially disrupt the operations of the fraudsters.

Collaboration with International Partners

The Commission is not working alone in this fight. They are collaborating with international partners to look into potential links to organised crime. This shows a global effort to combat fraud and bring those responsible to justice. By working together, they can share information and resources to better understand the scope and nature of the problem and take more effective action.