The Ogun State Police Command has apprehended a 45-year-old man, Tony Ameachi, in connection with an alleged N2.5 million online fraud. According to the police, Ameachi was arrested on September 22 in the Ojo area of Lagos State after detectives traced him to the location. The arrest was made following a complaint filed by a woman who claimed to have been scammed out of her money after responding to an online advertisement for deep freezers.
The complainant, who buys and resells deep freezers, had responded to an online advertisement on April 1 and contacted the person behind the offer. After discussions, she transferred N2.5 million into a bank account bearing the name Abdulmoruf Abdulahi for the purchase of the freezers. However, the goods were not delivered, and the person with whom she had been dealing subsequently stopped responding to her messages. The police investigation led detectives to Ameachi, who was found to be in possession of multiple ATM cards, mobile phones, and SIM cards.
During the search conducted at the time of Ameachi's arrest, the police recovered 25 ATM cards, 25 mobile phones, and 16 SIM cards. Further investigation established that Ameachi allegedly obtained utility bills and newly registered SIM cards from associates, who were directed to use them to open various bank accounts. The ATM cards were thereafter collected by Ameachi and allegedly used in transactions connected with fraudulent activities.
The police noted that the recovered devices, cards, and SIM cards are being examined to establish their connection with the present case and determine whether they were linked to other fraudulent transactions or additional victims. The investigation is also expected to establish the identities of other people who may have participated in the alleged scheme. This development highlights the risks posed by online advertisements that are used to reach potential victims with seemingly legitimate offers.
The case file and the recovered exhibits have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, Ogun State, for further investigation. The police spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, said that Ameachi would be charged in court after the conclusion of the investigation. The Ogun State Police Command is working to unravel the extent of Ameachi's alleged involvement in online fraud and to identify other potential victims.
Online adverts have become a common gateway for fraudsters to reach potential victims with seemingly legitimate offers. In this case, the complainant was looking to buy deep freezers for resale when she encountered the online offer and subsequently transferred millions of naira to the account provided by the seller. This pattern of fraud is similar to one documented in an investigation into AI-powered scam advertisements on TikTok.
The Ogun State Police Command's efforts to combat online fraud are ongoing, with the command working to identify and prosecute individuals involved in such activities. The arrest of Ameachi and the recovery of the ATM cards, mobile phones, and SIM cards are significant steps in this direction. The police are urging the public to be cautious when responding to online advertisements and to verify the authenticity of offers before making any financial transactions.
Key points
- The Ogun State Police Command arrested a 45-year-old man for alleged online fraud and recovered 25 ATM cards, 25 mobile phones, and 16 SIM cards.
- The suspect, Tony Ameachi, was arrested in Lagos State after detectives traced him in connection with a complaint filed by a woman who claimed to have been scammed out of N2.5 million.
- The police are investigating Ameachi's alleged involvement in online fraud and working to identify other potential victims.
