The Rivers State Police Command said its operatives had arrested two suspects, Michael Onyedikachi and his accomplice, Akachukwu Benedict, for alleged involvement in an online relationship scam involving a Canada-based Nigerian.
The police said one of the cases centred around Sandra Austin, a Nigerian based in Ontario, Canada, who fell victim to a deceptive scheme orchestrated by these fraudsters who swindled her of N110m before she realised she was dealing with the wrong people.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, disclosed this in a statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.
Iringe-Koko said Sandra had reported that the genesis of the problem was in February 2022, when when she received a Facebook friend request from an account named Engineer Desmond Chibuike Okechukwu.
The statement read, “Initially hesitant, she (Sandra) eventually accepted the request, leading to frequent exchanges of messages. The individual behind the account claimed to be an engineer capable of assisting her in constructing propert in Nigeria.
“The fraud escalated when the scammer persuaded Sandra to transition their conversations to WhatsApp. On this platform, he sent her pictures of luxurious houses purportedly built by him in upscale areas like Ajah in Lagos.
“Sandra expressed interest in one of the showcased properties, which the scammer claimed would cost N150 million to purchase and develop.”
It continued, “Trusting his claims, she began transferring funds to a provided bank account, sending a total of N110m by February 2024. After the final payment of N30m, she was abruptly blocked from all communication channels.”
The state police image maker said the shock of the scam caused Sandra’s blood pressure to spike, landing her in the hospital.
“Determined to seek justice, she contacted her family in Nigeria, who promptly reported the matter to the police. The victim made a complaint through a petition to the Commissioner of Police Rivers State who referred the case to the C4i Intelligence Unit in Borikiri, Port Harcourt, for discreet investigation.
“Meanwhile, the fraudsters repeatedly called Sandra to intimidate her and deter her from involving the authorities. Operatives swung into action and after intelligence-led policing, apprehended two suspects.”
She named the first suspect as 29-year-old Michael Onyedikachi, from Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State who she said confessed to operating the “Engineer Desmond” account. Michael admitted to downloading images of construction projects to deceive the victim into believing progress was being made on her supposed property.
“He (Michael) also disclosed that he spent eight months in Accra, Ghana, learning the art of online fraud.
“Michael was arrested at 7 pm on August 14, 2024, in his three-bedroom bungalow located in Ama-Okponike, a remote area in Enugu where he lived comfortably off his illicit earnings.
“During the operation, the police discovered a shrine prominently displayed within his residence, believed to be used for ritual purposes linked to his fraudulent activities.
“Michael’s arrest led to the capture of his accomplice, Akachukwu Benedict, also 29, from Ngor-Okpala LGA, Imo State. Akachukwu was apprehended on August 16, 2024, at a hotel in Enugu, where he had lavishly booked a suite for an entire year.
“He confessed to introducing Michael to online fraud in 2022 and admitted to his own history of relationship scams. His first fraudulent act, he revealed, occurred in 2021 when he swindled an American woman named Molissa out of $600.
“The suspects detailed their methods to the Police, explaining that they acquired phone numbers through a dealer, who remains at large, specialising in cloned SIM cards.
“To avoid detection, they processed most payments through cryptocurrency wallets. The investigation has also revealed that they relied heavily on social engineering tactics and fake online personas to manipulate their victims.”
Items recovered from them that are linked to the fraud included Toyota Corolla, land documents, laptops and various mobile phones.
The state police command said an investigation was ongoing to arrest other fleeing suspects, saying, “They (the duo) will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.
“The swift action and success of the C4i Intelligence Unit underscores their commitment to combating cybercrime and ensuring justice for victims of online fraud.”
