Indian authorities arrest Nigerian national in connection with cyber fraud scheme

The arrest, made on August 11, follows an investigation into a case where a resident of Daliganj was defrauded of approximately Rs 68 lakh N98.1m. The fraud reportedly involved criminals creating fake foreign identities, building relationships with victims online, and then impersonating customs and tax officials to extort money. The victim was initially contacted on Facebook by a person claiming to be a British citizen named Doris William. After establishing trust, the fraudsters promised expensive gifts and foreign currency, later claiming the parcel was intercepted by customs.

They then posed as officials, demanding payments for customs duty, income tax, and other charges. To lend credibility, a fake RBS certificate was allegedly sent to the victim. Osinachi was traced through technical analysis and intelligence gathering.

Two alleged associates, Uchenwa and Obäse Prosper, were previously arrested. Authorities recovered 11 mobile phones, a laptop, a passport, four ATM cards, and 34 screenshots, which reportedly included images and videos of foreign women used for fake social media profiles and materials related to impersonating customs officials. Osinachi, who entered India on a business visa in 2022 and overstayed, reportedly admitted to participating in the fraud with Uchenwa and Prosper, stating that other Nigeri