‘The Police in Lagos, in a joint operation with the Edo State Command, have nabbed the mastermind behind the syndicate group, comprising over 10 fraud groups impersonating the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), under the name “CBN Helping Hands Investment Scheme,” to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
Solomon Osiga Ezemede, head of the syndicate who operated under aliases- Musa Mukarat and Solomon Musa, was arrested along with his accomplices in Auchi, Edo State, following a formal report to the police by the CBN, accusing the group of impersonating its management and staff.
The group, the CBN noted, has deceived some members of the public into parting with money under the guise of investing such funds with the CBN, promising to double amounts invested within 24 hours.
The syndicate reportedly carried out its fraudulent acts using fake CBN Facebook accounts, fictitious mobile numbers, fake online profiles and testimonials to induce unsuspecting investors into paying money into numerous banks accounts.
Sources disclosed that many digital assets seized from the syndicates are currently being subjected to forensic analysis by the cyber intelligence units of the Nigeria Police and the CBN.
Meanwhile, the suspect, Ezemede, was charged to the Ebute Metta Magistrate Court, Lagos, on a four-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretense, fraudulent act and stealing, on December 30, 2020, and remanded in prison.
The case is billed for trial on March 3, 2021.
Commenting, Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, Osita Nwanisobi, lamented that the syndicate had succeeded in defrauding many victims, using the logo, seal, general signage and brand of the CBN.
Complaints received by the apex bank, he noted, bordered largely on funds lost to fraudsters who claimed to be agents of the CBN seeking to assist them obtain loans from the CBN.
While emphasizing that the CBN does not engage individuals to act as agents on its behalf for the coordination of its intervention programmes, Nwanisobi warned the public to be wary of fraudsters, masquerading as staff or agents of the CBN to swindle them.
He also advised all to report suspected cases of fraud to the nearest police station thereby checkmating the activities of fraudsters, just as he warned perpetrators to desist from such as security agencies had been adequately briefed to checkmate such fraudulent activities.
