Crime Japan and Nigeria bust romance fraud syndicate

[thomas]

Nigerian police arrested 11 Nigerian nationals suspected of participating in romance and investment scams targeting people in Japan. The total damages were estimated at 150 million yen (around $998,000), the Japanese National Police Agency (NPA) reported on 18 February after a collaborative international investigation.

The suspects are accused of participating in fraud schemes, including social media romance scams. Authorities believe they were linked to an international fraud network operating in the region. This is the first instance of foreign suspects involved in social media-driven scams affecting Japanese victims being arrested overseas through a coordinated international investigation.

According to the NPA, between March 2022 and September 2023, 14 individuals in their 30s to 80s across five Japanese prefectures -- Gifu, Kagawa, Oita, Nagasaki and Okinawa -- were defrauded of a total of 150 million yen. Victims were contacted via platforms like Facebook by individuals posing as military personnel or doctors. These scammers later communicated through the Line messaging app, claiming they wanted to send luggage to Japan for marriage purposes, and requested money for customs fees. Additionally, there were cases of social media-based investment fraud cases where scammers impersonated celebrities to lure victims into investing. The NPA's National Cyber Department traced the defrauded funds, which had been converted into cryptocurrency, and found that at least about 56 million yen (around $372,000) was linked to bank accounts belonging to 13 individuals in Nigeria.

Nigerian police arrest 11 allegedly linked to romance, investment scams in Japan - The Mainichi

TOKYO -- Nigerian police have arrested 11 people for suspected involvement in romance and investment scams in Japan, with damages totaling 150 million

mainichi.jp

Japanese and Nigerian police arrest 20 over online scam ring | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

33,320 recovered in Nigeria-Japan cybercrime operation; 11 arrested for romance scams - Techpression

A combined operation between the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the National Police Agency of Japan has led to the arrest of 11 individuals involved in cybercrimes, including computer-related fraud, romance scams, and identity theft, targeting Japanese victims. The arrests followed an...

techpression.com