Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arrested 792 suspects in a raid on a building in Lagos believed to be a hub for large-scale online fraud.
The operation took place on December 10 at the seven-storey Big Leaf Building in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial capital. According to EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren, the arrested individuals include 148 Chinese nationals and 40 Filipino nationals, alongside other suspects.
The EFCC revealed that the building housed a call center where fraudulent schemes targeted victims in the Americas and Europe. The suspects used social media and messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram to lure victims with fake romance and investment opportunities, particularly in cryptocurrency.
“They would win the trust of victims by offering romance or fake investment opportunities, especially in cryptocurrency,” Uwujaren explained. Once victims were convinced, they were pressured to transfer money for non-existent cryptocurrency schemes or other fake projects.
Uwujaren added that Nigerian accomplices played a role by initiating contact with victims online, after which the foreign suspects completed the fraud. “The Nigerians would gain the confidence of the victims, and then the foreign suspects would take over to complete the scam,” he said.
The raid carries significant implications for Nigeria and the global fight against cybercrime. The involvement of foreign nationals highlights the international nature of fraud networks, where organized groups collaborate across borders to defraud individuals.
For Nigeria, such discoveries raise concerns about its reputation as a cybercrime hub, which could affect foreign investment and international trust. Locally, the participation of Nigerian accomplices reflects underlying economic challenges like unemployment, which often push young people toward illegal activities.
On a broader scale, the use of social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram to carry out scams exposes the need for stricter monitoring, improved online security, and greater public awareness of phishing schemes. Victims, particularly in the Americas and Europe, suffer financial and emotional harm, underscoring the importance of global cooperation to tackle cybercrime.
Reuters reported that the EFCC is collaborating with international partners to uncover the full scale of the fraud network. Uwujaren stated that the investigation is ongoing, with efforts underway to bring all those involved to justice.
