Following a petition filed by the United Bank For Africa, UBA, to the Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, against some internet fraudsters who specialise in hacking into bank accounts in Nigeria, the Police Command in Lagos State, on Tuesday, confirmed the arrest of two members linked to the syndicate.
Police spokesperson, Zone 2 command, SP Hauwa Idris-Adamu, in a statement said the suspects identified as Yusuf Ademola, 40, and Adesina Abiodun, 50 were apprehended in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
According to Idris-Adamu, the suspects confessed to the crime and hinted that they have syndicates all over Nigeria and use customers’ BVN numbers linked to their accounts to perpetrate this heinous crime at any bank of their choice.
The statement read, “On May 8, 2023, a petition was submitted by United Bank for Africa to the Assistant Inspector General of Police that there are some syndicates that specialise in internet fraud of various banks in Nigeria, most especially United Bank for Africa, in which they hack into customers’ accounts and move their monies.
“Based on the petition, the AIG raised a team of detectives from the Zonal Monitoring Unit, who swung into action with the aid of modern technology, and two suspects, Yusuf Ademola, 40, and Adesina Abiodun, 50, were tracked down at their hideout in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.
“The suspects confessed to the crime that they have many syndicates all over Nigeria and that they use software to hack into customers’ accounts and move their money undetected from any bank they wish. However, the modus operandi of these fraudsters is to have a customer’s BVN linked phone number and bank alert for easy transfer of the money.”
Ms. Idris-Adamu noted that “over 1000 customers’ accounts have been hacked and defrauded across the country,” adding that investigation into the incident revealed that members of the syndicates were drawn from different parts of the country.
She said efforts were on top gear to arrest all suspects connected with the crime.
“In the interim, the investigation is still ongoing and suspects will soon be arraigned in court of completion of the investigation,” Idris-Adamu added.
