Nigerian arrested in India over alleged $217K fraud

A Nigerian has been arrested in India for duping a diamond broker from South Mumbai of $217,000.

The 48-year-old man identified as Joseph Akeredolu was part of a social media hacking scheme that creates fake accounts, luring people through these accounts and dupe them under the pretext of sending gifts.

According to Indian Express, the gang approached the diamond broker, who resides in Girgaon and has an office at Bharat Diamond Bourse in BKC, through one of the fake accounts on Instagram on October 10, 2020.

The Indian Police said Akeredolu created a social media profile under the name of the non-existing woman called, Alex Zendra. He claims, through the woman to be a captain at a ship in the UK.

“We started chatting on WhatsApp and after a few days, Zendra told me that she loves me and wanted to marry me. She aspired to start a business with me in Mumbai…

“On October 17, she sent me a video in which she showed branded shoes, gold chains, watches, and US dollars and said that she is sending them for me,” the broker said in his statement to the police.