EFCC, Canada Police Recover $225,000 From Nigerian Crypto Fraudster, Return Funds to Victim

In a significant victory against global cybercrime, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of Nigeria, in partnership with the Toronto Police Service, Canada, has successfully recovered and returned $225,000 to a victim defrauded in a cryptocurrency investment scam. This collaborative effort highlights the growing international commitment to combat cross-border financial crimes.

The scam, orchestrated by Nigerian national Omonkhoa Precious Afure, began in June 2021 when the victim was lured into investing via a cryptocurrency platform called Legacyfxtraders.online. The suspect, using the alias “Moshe Theodor McNigh” on Facebook, convinced the victim to invest, ultimately leading to a loss of $355,000 in Canadian dollars.

In response, Nigerian law enforcement, in coordination with Canadian authorities, initiated an investigation. The Toronto Police Service worked alongside several agencies, including the Coordinated Cyber Centre (C3), 51 Division Fraud Unit, the Financial Crimes Asset Forfeiture Unit, and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). Additionally, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s (RCMP) International Liaison Officers stationed in Nigeria played a key role in the investigation.

As a result of their combined efforts, Nigerian authorities seized assets from Afure, and in December 2024, Nigerian courts declared the funds as the victim’s property, ordering their restitution. The victim received $225,000 of the defrauded amount after the Canadian police returned the funds.

This case serves as a reminder of the growing threat of online fraud, particularly in the realms of romance scams and cryptocurrency schemes. According to the CAFC, romance scams and investment fraud accounted for significant financial losses in 2023, with victims reporting over $52.5 million in romance scams and $309 million in investment fraud. Experts believe that these figures could be even higher, as only a small percentage of victims report such crimes to authorities.

The successful recovery and return of the funds underscore the importance of international cooperation in tackling financial crimes and providing justice to victims of fraud worldwide.