The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol)
and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested three
Nigerians over alleged internet fraud.
Interpol, in a statement published on its website, said the
suspects allegedly used a malicious Remote Access Trojan (RAT) to steal
confidential online details from corporate organisations.
The affected corporate organisations were said to be located
in south-east Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
According to Interpol, the suspects were arrested in a sting
operation codenamed — Killer Bee — conducted in the Ajegunle axis of Lagos and
Benin, Edo state.
The agency disclosed that Hendrix Omorume, one of the
suspects, was charged with three counts of serious financial fraud and has been
sentenced to one-year imprisonment.
Speaking on the arrest, Craig Jones, Interpol’s director of
cybercrime, said millions could have been lost if the Interpol had not alerted
the EFCC.
“Through its global police network and constant monitoring
of cyberspace, INTERPOL had the globally sourced intelligence needed to alert
Nigeria to a serious security threat where millions could have been lost
without swift police action,” Jones said.
“Further arrests and
prosecutions are foreseen across the world as intelligence continues to come in
and investigations unfold.”
On his part, Abdulkarim Chukkol, EFCC director of
operations, said the commission partners Interpol to keep pace with new
technologies and understand how they are being used by criminals.
“Cybercrime is spreading at a fast pace, with new trends
constantly emerging. Through operations like Killer Bee, INTERPOL partners EFCC
to keep pace with new technologies and understand the possibilities they create
for criminals and how they can be used as tools for fighting cybercrime,”
Chukkol said.
“The enforcement actions led by Nigeria and coordinated by
INTERPOL send a clear message that cybercrime will have serious repercussions
for those involved in business email compromise fraud, particularly in
Nigeria.”
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