Nearly 800 people were detained for a crypto-romance fraud in Nigeria

According to Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, 792 suspects were taken into custody during a search on a building thought to be a gathering place for scammers who enticed victims with promises of romance before pressuring them to give over money for fraudulent cryptocurrency investments.

The suspects, who included 40 Filipino and 148 Chinese nationals, were taken into custody on December 10 at the seven-story Big Leaf Building in Lagos, the economic hub of Nigeria, according to Wilson Uwujaren, a spokesman for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

He stated that a call center mostly serving victims from the Americas and Europe was located in the opulent structure.

Employees would reach out to people via social media and messaging apps like Instagram and WhatsApp, then entice them online or present them with what appeared to be profitable investment options, Uwujaren told reporters.

Victims were coerced into sending money for fictitious cryptocurrency schemes and other nonexistent initiatives after they became addicted.

“Nigerian accomplices were recruited by the foreign kingpins to prospect for victims online through phishing, targeting mostly Americans, Canadians, Mexicans and several others from European countries,” Uwujaren explained.

“Once the Nigerians are able to win the confidence of would-be victims, the foreigners would take over the actual task of defrauding the victims,” according to him.

Uwujaren stated that the Commission will investigate possible connections to organized crime and was working with foreign partners. During the raid, its agents confiscated cars, phones, and computers, he continued.