By Awwal Umar Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have dismantled another syndicate of internet fraudsters ...
By Awwal Umar
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have dismantled another syndicate of internet fraudsters specializing in a hotel review job scam targeting victims in the United Kingdom. Acting on intelligence reports, the EFCC arrested 105 suspects—comprising four Chinese nationals and 101 Nigerians—on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at Naka Hall Plaza on Abutu Garba Street, Gudu, Abuja. The operatives also recovered 100 compact workstations from the suspects.
The hotel review job scam is a globally entrenched form of internet fraud that has recently emerged in Nigeria. The scheme involves Chinese organizers recruiting local, computer-savvy Nigerians as "Customer Service Representatives." These representatives operate within a pre-designed framework of online deception, using fake foreign identities to engage expatriates in online chats. Victims are lured into rating hotels with promises of earning $5 per review. As trust is established, the payment per review is increased to $10, encouraging victims to review more hotels.
Eventually, victims are persuaded to book accommodations at the rated hotels, paying as much as $500, with assurances that the company will reimburse them with significant interest through a cryptocurrency wallet in their name. However, after the bookings are made, the victims lose access to the wallet, resulting in financial losses. The intricate scheme primarily targets individuals in Europe and other parts of the world, leveraging false representations to defraud foreigners.
The EFCC has confirmed that it is collaborating with law enforcement agencies worldwide to unravel the international dimensions of this sophisticated fraud scheme.
The Abuja operation follows a significant breakthrough last month when EFCC operatives arrested 792 suspected investment and internet fraudsters on December 10, 2024, at a location known as the Big Leaf Building on No. 7 Oyin Jolayemi Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Lagos suspects, involved in similar fraudulent activities, are currently under investigation, and the EFCC has disclosed that they will be charged in court in the coming days.
The EFCC reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating cybercrime in Nigeria and holding perpetrators accountable. The agency has urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to law enforcement authorities.
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