Indian Police Bust Nigerian Citizen in Delhi for Online Scamming Scheme
Indian Cyber Authorities Crack Down on International Scammers
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has apprehended a Nigerian national in Delhi for allegedly masterminding a sophisticated cyber fraud scheme targeting Indian residents.
Sophisticated Scheme Involving Social Media Profiles
The suspect, Uchenwa, a resident of Olo State in Nigeria, was taken into custody on Thursday night following a thorough investigation. According to authorities, Uchenwa and his accomplices created fake social media profiles on platforms such as Instagram, posing as foreign nationals, particularly from the United States and the United Kingdom.
These profiles were used to befriend Indian users, primarily through friendship requests and messages, where they would promise extravagant gifts and foreign currency from abroad.
Tactics Used to Lure Victims
Once the victims were lured into trusting the scammers, they would pose as customs or income tax officials, claiming that packages sent to the victims had been detained at airports. The victims were then coerced into paying various fees, including customs duty, income tax, Goods and Services Tax (GST), and other charges, under the guise of releasing the detained packages.
Investigation and Arrests
The STF received intelligence inputs regarding the nefarious activities of this Nigerian cyber crime gang operating on social media platforms. An investigation was launched, and during the course of the probe, officials came across a complaint filed by a resident of Lucknow in 2026.
The complainant claimed to have been duped by a fake profile of a UK-based woman named “Doris William” in August 2025. The victim was informed that gifts and foreign currency worth approximately Rs. 3 crores had arrived at the Delhi airport, prompting him to pay various charges.
The victim transferred nearly Rs. 68 lakhs in multiple transactions between 2025 and January 2026.
Efforts to Identify Other Members and Analyze Evidence
During the investigation, three mobile phones and four SIM cards were confiscated from the accused. Efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the gang, as well as to analyze bank accounts, wallets, and electronic devices linked to the scam.