Police Arrest Fraudster For Duping 67-Year-Old US Woman of $597,000
Operatives from the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) have arrested a 27-year-old man, Rabiu Aliyu Salisu, alias Rabo, from Kogi State, for his alleged involvement in identity theft, computer-related fraud, and money laundering amounting to $597,000.
During a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, the police revealed that Salisu had fraudulently assumed the identity of an American citizen named Matthew Ramsey to deceive and exploit unsuspecting victims, particularly vulnerable women, in online romance scams.
According to Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the suspect admitted to defrauding 67-year-old Deborah Woods, an American citizen, out of $597,000. Salisu confessed that he personally received $200,000 from the scam, which he used to purchase a three-bedroom terrace house worth N65 million.
In addition, a search of Salisu’s residence led to the confiscation of various electronic devices, which were used in the fraudulent activities. The police also seized eight BMW vehicles believed to be proceeds of the crime.
Furthermore, police investigations uncovered a larger organized crime syndicate involved in a $4 million fraud targeting international oil trading firms. The syndicate, led by companies such as Marine Gold Oil Refineries Limited, Eagle Capital Management, and Richrice International Corporation, operates across Nigeria, China, and the United States, specializing in high-level fraud schemes within the global oil and gas sector.
On January 4, 2024, detectives arrested Dr. David Emmanuel Udensik, also known as Dr. Jacob Bello, a Nigerian national from Akwa Ibom State. Udensik is accused of generating fraudulent intelligence reports and forging documents from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which were then used to scam oil traders, resulting in fraudulent proceeds of $610,000.
Following a year-long investigation, operatives arrested Engr. Isaac Jerome Oyakhilome, the CEO of Marine Gold Oil Refineries Limited and a director at Richrice International Corporation. Oyakhilome is alleged to have facilitated a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme involving fraudulent crude oil sales agreements with NNPCL, resulting in proceeds of $1,151,495 for his company, which has no known physical address.
The police also recovered several exhibits during the arrests, including ₦55,000,000 (approximately $33,428.57), assets valued at ₦370,000,000, multiple electronic devices, and a Toyota Camry vehicle. The suspects have reportedly confessed to their roles in the criminal operation.
In total, 32 suspects were arrested by the NPF-NCCC in January 2025, while the Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Lagos made 52 arrests, bringing the total number of suspects arrested to 84. The successes are part of the police’s efforts under the leadership of Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, to improve Nigeria’s reputation and remove the country from the FATF Grey List.
