Cyber fraud: SOG arrests Nigerian national from Mumbai airport

Jaipur:  Rajasthan police’s special operations group (SOG) has arrested one Eric Chukwudi Okafor , a Nigerian national, for allegedly defrauding a jewellery import and export businessman of Rs 7.79 lakh. The accused was held from Mumbai International Airport before he could board a flight to Nigeria. The police officials said that the man is a member of an international gang of cyber criminals and the efforts were on to nab others.

The jewellery businessman lodged an FIR on December 16 saying that the email ID of an Italy-based firm was hacked by this gang. The gang members sent him fraudulent emails using that email ID. The businessman deposited Rs 7.79 lakh in the bank accounts belonging to the gang members.

“The name of a local contact of the gang – Ritesh Kumar Gupta – came up. He was arrested from Haryana and remanded in judicial custody. An investigation was launched on the basis of mobile numbers and bank accounts retrieved from Ritesh,” ADG SOG Anil Paliwal said.

The officer added that searches were carried out in Janakpuri, Badarpur and several places in Delhi in search of the Nigerian national when his role was confirmed in the investigation.

“He was aware of Ritesh’s arrest, so he was trying to flee to Nigeria when he was arrested from the airport. He was brought to Jaipur and quizzed. He has confessed to his involvement in cyber frauds and has revealed the identity of some other gang members. Further investigation is going on,” said the officer,’ said the officer.