While trying to evade arrest after operatives of the EFCC stormed their apartment in Uyo, a yahoo boy hid himself in the wardrobe.
The operatives from the Uyo Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday arrested six suspected internet fraudsters, who specialize in hacking into Facebook accounts of unsuspecting victims, The Agency reports.
They were arrested in a two-bedroom apartment located on 54, Church Road, Off Calabar-Itu Expressway, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, following intelligence report on their nefarious activities.
The all-male suspects are: Lawrence Nnamdi-Mba Ebesike; Prince E. Udeh; Chijioke Victor; Promise Odimba; Ugbor Ifeanyi and Prince Anthony, all between 22 and 29 years age bracket.
Ebesike, who claimed to be a musician with the stage name: “Lawre Blue,” confessed to the crime and gave a detailed account of how they carry out their operations on Facebook.
He said:
“I am into internet fraud. Part of how I operate is that I edit Facebook accounts, go to Google and search for pictures of United State military personnel. I download some of these pictures and put them on my fake Facebook accounts. After doing that, I target foreigners, mostly old white women who are in need of men.
I stay online all day trying to befriend them. After convincing them, I will make them apply for my leave so that I can see them.”
Ebesike further revealed that the syndicate has a US-based partner, Benjamin Best, whom he said provides them with the account where their victims make payments into.
