Nigeria’s cybercrime police have arrested eight suspects across Delta State and Lagos in investigations into alleged investment scams, romance fraud and celebrity impersonation, uncovering how fake identities, cloned voices, fraudulent websites and cryptocurrency wallets were used to target victims overseas.
The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) said the investigations involved international partners, including the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police Akaniyene Ezima disclosed the arrests in Abuja, describing three separate investigations into suspected fraud networks operating across national borders.
The cases reveal how online deception can extend beyond fake social media profiles. Investigators say suspects allegedly used fabricated investment platforms, counterfeit banking websites and digital impersonation to gain victims’ confidence before diverting their money through cryptocurrency wallets and intermediaries.
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Fake investments and cloned identities
In the first investigation, four suspects were arrested in Agbor and Okpanam, Delta State, in October following intelligence shared by the UK’s NCA.
Police identified them as Ojei Divine, Godwin Umerin, Edema Bright and Peter Kpamichukwu Okoh.
According to Ezima, Ojei allegedly posed as investment traders and directed victims to websites advertising forex, cryptocurrency and oil and gas investment opportunities. Investigators traced 21 cryptocurrency transactions worth $21,150 to one wallet and recovered digital assets valued at $15,900.
Police also alleged that Edema, a 300-level Delta State University student, combined sextortion with cryptocurrency fraud, while Okoh, a website developer, admitted to creating six websites allegedly used for fraudulent activities.
The second investigation focused on romance scams targeting elderly Canadians between 2020 and 2024. Two suspects, Uka Chidiebere Gerald, 32, and Kenneth Ufuophu, 30, were arrested in Delta State.
Police said two identified victims lost more than CA$417,000. Investigators also linked Gerald to a Binance wallet through which approximately 1.684 million USDT was allegedly laundered, although the statement did not establish that the entire amount represented the documented losses.
The third operation led to three arrests in Lekki, Lagos, on October 14. Police alleged that the suspects used fake celebrity profiles, artificial-intelligence voice cloning and deepfake technology to impersonate prominent personalities, including Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, and promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment platform.
What the arrests mean for online users
Police recovered mobile phones, laptops, tablets, routers and other devices for forensic examination. The suspects are in custody or under investigation, and the police said they would face court proceedings after the necessary inquiries. The allegations have not been established in court.
The cases therefore expose a critical weakness in online financial safety: a convincing identity, professional-looking website or displayed account balance does not prove that an investment is genuine.
Users should independently verify investment firms, avoid sending money to wallets controlled by online acquaintances and never rely on screenshots of supposed profits as proof of returns.
The international dimension also matters. Investigators say the alleged victims were targeted across several countries, while financial transfers passed through multiple platforms and jurisdictions. Such cases require cooperation between police, technology companies and financial institutions to trace funds and identify victims.
The arrests mark progress in the investigations, but recovering stolen money and establishing each suspect’s role will be essential to delivering justice.
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