Read how EFCC arrested one of the biggest “yahoo boys” in Rivers

– Interpol, EFCC pick up notorious cyber-criminal in Rivers state

– EFCC says the arrest confirms Nigeria’s readiness to deal with cybercrime

– Interpol believes the cyber-criminal is responsible for fraud that stretches from Europe to Asia and Africa

– The suspect has defrauded victims of around USD 60 million 

Nigerian ringleader of an international cybercrime gang has been arrested in a joint operation between Interpol and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Interpol, on its official website on Monday, August 1, confirmed the arrest of a “40-year-old Nigerian national, known as ‘Mike’,” who is “believed to be behind scams totalling more than $60million involving hundreds of victims worldwide.”

The international security outfit said the network which Mike controls “compromised email accounts of small to medium businesses around the world including in Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, Romania, South Africa, Thailand and the US, with the financial victims mainly other companies dealing with these compromised accounts.”

EFCC’s Head of Cybercrime Section, Abdul Chukkol said the transnational nature of business e-mail compromise makes it complex to crack, but the arrest sent a clear signal that Nigeria could not be considered a safe haven for criminals.

Men of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

 

“For a long time we have said in order to be effective, the fight against cybercrime must rely on public-private partnerships and international cooperation,” said Mr Chukkol.

“The success of this operation is the result of close cooperation between INTERPOL and the EFCC, whose understanding of the Nigerian environment made it possible to disrupt the criminal organization’s network traversing many countries, targeting individuals and companies,” added Mr Chukkol.

NAIJ.com recalls that Minister of Communication, Mr Adebayo Shittu recently warned that Nigeria needs to be more safety conscious to be able to reap the benefit of the growing use of digital technology.

He said: “Many Nigerians now have access to internet facilities. Our citizens now use the enormous opportunities this digital infrastructure brings to work, transact business, campaign, communicate, learn, interact and relax. Today banking, commercial and other critical services are being provided online.

“Evidence, however, abounds on growing electronic fraud and threats to digital databases both in private and public sector. Without safety and security, growth is impossible.“

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