The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that it had arrested 101 Nigerians alongside four Chinese nationals for cybercrime-related offences in Abuja, at an apartment in the Gudu area of the nation’s capital.
The Commission stated that the suspected comprised of 67 males (including the four Chinese nationals) and 38 females, were allegedly involved in a hotel review job scam targeting victims and hotels in Europe and other parts of the world.
This was made known to journalists on Friday by the EFCC’s Head of Cybercrime, Deen Whyte stating, “Talking about the Nigerians being accessories to this crime: for now, we have not been able to ascertain any case of forced servitude. I would like to point out that Nigerians responded to advertisements for job opportunities. They saw it as an opportunity to apply for jobs in a company willing to employ them. It was only after they began work that they discovered the nature of their activities.
“At that point, it became a matter of free will to either walk away or stay. However, if they chose to stay, they became accessories to the crime. Until further evidence suggests otherwise, it would be unfair to conclude that they were forced into the job.”
Regarding the syndicate’s mode of operation, the EFCC’s Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwujaren said, ““The syndicate advertised job opportunities to lure innocent Nigerians into their employment. Once employed, the Nigerians were given instructions on how to contact victims around the world. This fraud targeted victims primarily in Europe and other parts of the world, with a particular focus on the United Kingdom.”