The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the arrest of 792 suspects in a major operation targeting a sophisticated international fraud network. The suspects, detained on December 10, include 148 Chinese and 40 Filipino nationals. The operation took place at the seven-storey Big Leaf Building in Lagos, described as a hub for large-scale cybercrime operations.

The luxury building housed a call center that primarily targeted victims from the Americas and Europe. According to EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren, the fraudsters lured victims through social media platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram with fake offers of romance or lucrative cryptocurrency investments. Once trust was established, the victims were pressured into transferring money for non-existent schemes.

“Nigerian accomplices were recruited by the foreign kingpins to identify and engage potential victims through phishing,” Uwujaren said. “Once trust was built, the foreign operators took over to execute the fraudulent schemes.”

The EFCC seized computers, phones, and vehicles during the raid and is collaborating with international partners to investigate potential connections to organized crime. The commission emphasized its commitment to dismantling such networks and protecting vulnerable individuals worldwide.

This operation highlights the growing sophistication of cybercrime and the global reach of these fraudulent schemes. The EFCC’s actions mark a significant step in combating financial crimes that target unsuspecting individuals across continents.