The Delhi Police have cracked down on an elaborate international scam operation with the arrest of a 27-year-old Nigerian woman, Benita Gift Agene, along with her accomplice, Izunna Paul Uzomo, 34.
Their fraudulent activities centred around deceiving individuals under the guise of customs clearance and RBI fees.
The arrest follows a complaint lodged at the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations Unit (IFSO), where a victim recounted a fraudulent scheme initiated by an online acquaintance named “Rebecca,” purportedly based in the UK and claiming employment at Citibank Power Station.
The victim received a distress call from someone posing as a customs officer at Mumbai airport, alleging issues with Rebecca’s documents and soliciting financial assistance for customs clearance.
Moved by the pleas and assurances of repayment, the victim transferred approximately Rs 7 lakh (N2.93 million) across various transactions after initially depositing Rs 50,000 (N209,000).
During interrogation, Benita Gift Agene disclosed her Nigerian origins and intent to study and seek employment in India.
Agene, introduced to the scheme by Uzomo, detailed their operation, revealing a strategy involving images of UK-based individuals to gain trust and solicit funds from unsuspecting Indian targets.
Agene adopted the persona of “Rebecca” and engaged victims via WhatsApp, while Uzomo facilitated the deception by arranging false documentation, including a UK number, fabricated air tickets, and an Indian SIM card.
Their scam exploited contact information obtained from a mobile application, employing emotional manipulation and false identities to coerce victims into making monetary deposits.
The arrests have exposed an intricate international racket preying on individuals, prompting law enforcement to intensify efforts to curb such fraudulent activities and safeguard the public from falling victim to similar scams.
