Crime

EFCC Arrests 105 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Abuja Over Hotel Review Scam

Published by Tope Fakinlede on January 11th, 2025.

EFCC Arrests 105 Suspected Internet Fraudsters in Abuja Over Hotel Review Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended 105 individuals for their involvement in a fraudulent scheme targeting primarily victims in the United Kingdom. The arrests were made on Thursday, January 9, 2025, following intelligence about a growing trend of internet crimes involving international fraudsters.

The suspects, including 4 Chinese nationals and 101 Nigerians, were detained at Naka Hall Plaza on Abutu Garba Street, Gudu, in Abuja. The EFCC also seized 100 compact workstations from the group.

How the Scam Operates

The hotel review job scam is a relatively new internet fraud scheme gaining traction in Nigeria. The operation is typically led by Chinese individuals who recruit local, tech-savvy Nigerians to serve as Customer Service Representatives. These representatives are given false identities and engage with foreign victims, primarily from Europe.

The scam starts with the fraudulent promise of $5 per hotel review. As victims begin reviewing hotels, they are encouraged to keep participating, with the payment increasing to $10 per review. Eventually, victims are persuaded to make hotel bookings costing up to $500, under the guise that the company will pay them back with interest through a cryptocurrency wallet. Once the payment is made, however, the victims find they are unable to access the wallet, and their money is lost.

This elaborate scheme is designed to deceive international victims, and the EFCC is collaborating with global law enforcement agencies to investigate its international scope.

Connection to Recent Arrests in Lagos

This recent operation in Abuja comes just a month after the EFCC arrested 792 suspected fraudsters in Lagos. The suspects were detained on December 10, 2024, at Big Leaf Building, Victoria Island, Lagos, in connection with similar investment and internet fraud activities. The investigation into those arrests is nearly complete, and the suspects are expected to be charged soon.