Nigeria busts 792 in crypto romance scam
Scammers used call centers and social media to run fraudulent schemes across continents
Authorities in Nigeria have arrested 792 people linked to a massive crypto romance scam—where fraudsters pose as romantic partners to trick victims into sending money to fake cryptocurrency investments.
These scams often begin with fake romantic advances, typically made through messaging apps or social media. Once the scammers gain trust, they persuade victims to send money, promising significant returns from non-existent crypto schemes.
EFCC Bursts Syndicate of 792 Cryptocurrency Investment, Romance Fraud Suspects in Lagos
— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC)
… Arrests 193 Chinese, Arabs, Filipinos, Others
The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, has disclosed that the Commission, in a… pic.twitter.com/623RP95Dxu
On December 10, Nigeria’s anti-fraud agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), detained 792 suspects in a seven-story building in Lagos, the country’s commercial capital. Among those arrested were 148 Chinese nationals and 40 Filipinos.
The building functioned as a large-scale call center. Each floor was filled with high-end desktop computers, while authorities found more than 500 SIM cards on the fifth floor. Vehicles and mobile phones were also seized during the raid.
According to EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren, the call center staff targeted victims from Europe, North America, and other regions. Scammers reached out through WhatsApp and similar platforms, presenting seemingly profitable crypto investment opportunities.
“The foreign kingpins recruited Nigerian accomplices to look for victims online, often targeting Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, and others across Europe. Once the Nigerians gained the victims’ trust, the foreigners took over and carried out the actual fraud,” Uwujaren explained.
The Nigerian accomplices had no official employment contracts and were unaware of who owned the company. Payments were made informally, with no corporate records.
The EFCC is collaborating with international partners to investigate the networks behind these scams. This case highlights the rising need for crypto awareness as scammers continue to exploit trust and technology to deceive people worldwide.
How to protect yourself
Be cautious of anyone you meet online who suggests an investment opportunity—especially if it promises guaranteed profits. Always verify claims and seek advice from trusted sources before sending funds.
