Rivers State Police Arrest Two Suspected Online Scammers Targeting Canadian Victim
The Rivers State Police Command has reported the arrest of two individuals, Michael Onyedikachi and his associate, Akachukwu Benedict, in connection with an online scam that defrauded a Nigerian citizen residing in Ontario, Canada. The victim, identified as Sandra Austin, was tricked into transferring a total of N110 million over a span of two years.
According to police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko, the scam began in February 2022 when Sandra received a friend request on Facebook from a user operating under the name “Engineer Desmond Chibuike Okechukwu.” Despite initial reluctance, Sandra eventually accepted the request, leading to frequent communications.
The scam escalated as the perpetrator convinced Sandra to continue their discussions on WhatsApp, where he presented images of luxurious homes he claimed to have constructed in high-end neighborhoods such as Ajah, Lagos. Expressing interest in one particular property, which he priced at N150 million, Sandra trusted the scammer and subsequently transferred funds totaling N110 million from 2022 to 2024. After sending a final N30 million payment, Sandra found herself abruptly blocked from contacting the scammer.
This incident had severe repercussions for Sandra’s health, leading to an increase in blood pressure that necessitated hospitalization. Determined to pursue justice, she reached out to her family in Nigeria, who then alerted the authorities.
The matter was brought to the attention of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, resulting in the case being handed over to the C4i Intelligence Unit in Port Harcourt for a thorough investigation. The police report indicated that the suspects had attempted to intimidate Sandra, aiming to prevent her from involving law enforcement; however, the detectives executed an intelligence-led operation that ultimately led to the suspects’ arrest.
Michael Onyedikachi, 29, a native of Nkanu West Local Government Area in Enugu State, was detained on August 14, 2024, at his residence in Ama-Okponike, Enugu. During interrogation, he confessed to creating the fraudulent “Engineer Desmond” profile and admitted to using downloaded images of real estate projects to mislead Sandra. Michael disclosed that he had spent eight months in Accra, Ghana, mastering online fraud techniques. A shrine believed to be linked to his deceitful activities was found in his home during the arrest.
Following Michael’s apprehension, his accomplice, Akachukwu Benedict, also 29, from Ngo-Okpala Local Government Area in Imo State, was captured on August 16, 2024, at a hotel room he had rented for an entire year in Enugu. Akachukwu confessed to introducing Michael to online scamming activities in 2022 and acknowledged having swindled an American woman out of $600 in a previous scam.
The suspects reportedly utilized cloned SIM cards and cryptocurrency wallets to evade detection, and the police recovered several items, including a Toyota Corolla, land documents, laptops, and mobile phones. Law enforcement officials stated that investigations are ongoing to locate other accomplices, and the suspects will be charged in court once the investigation is complete.
In conclusion, the decisive action taken by the C4i Intelligence Unit demonstrates their commitment to eradicating cybercrime and securing justice for victims of such deceptions.
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