A joint operation between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA) has resulted in the arrest of 11 people involved in serious cybercrimes, including identity theft, romance scams, and fraud. These crimes were mainly targeting victims in Japan.
The investigation began after the NPF received a report on April 3, 2024, about five cybercrime cases involving 13 individuals in Nigeria.
Working together with Nigeria’s National Central Bureau and NCB Tokyo, the police uncovered a large group of criminals who used social media platforms like Instagram to deceive people into fake romantic relationships.
The criminals convinced their victims to send money, which was then turned into cryptocurrency and sent to wallets in Nigeria.
So far, authorities have managed to recover $33,320, and the investigation is still ongoing to recover more stolen funds and break up the entire criminal network.
The Nigeria Police Force has promised to continue their efforts to combat cybercrime, both in the digital world and in real life, by using the latest technology and working with international partners to ensure safety for everyone.
