The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested five suspected internet fraudsters, also known as Yahoo-Yahoo, undergoing training in the state.
A statement signed the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command SP Mohammed Ahmed Wakil said the suspects were arrested after a successful operation.
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Wakil said “The Operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB), Bauchi Command, acted on a verified intelligence on 20th May 2022, burst into an apartment located at Kirfi Road, GRA, Bauchi, where a training centre was established for youths who want to venture into internet crime by one Emmanuel Saleh alias Wizblaq 22 yrs old ‘m’ of Rafin-Zurfi, Bauchi.”
He gave the name of the suspects arrested in the apartment as Emmanuel Sale, alias Wizblaq (the ringleader); Matthias Akronyi alias Mad Kid, 20 yrs ‘m’ of Block 24, 82 Division’s Army Barracks, Enugu; Patience Nuhu 21yrs (female) of Rafin-Zurfi, Bauchi; Bulus Haruna 18 yrs old ‘m’ of Rafin-Zurfi, Bauchi and Kingsley Simon, 19 yrs old ‘m’ of Rafin-Zurfi, Bauchi. “
The Police spokesman said “Findings reveal that the principal suspect Emmanuel Saleh and members of the syndicate targeted foreign women under a proxy server, hacked by spoofing the victim’s email account/website which makes it possible to carry out variations in the legitimate email of the victims to fool the victim and gain access to the accounts, calendar and data. During the investigation, the suspects confessed to the crime.”
Wakil said proceed of crime Items recovered from the residential apartment turned training centre as exhibits include: four laptops, one television set, four sound systems, brand new power generator, seven plastic chairs, one office chair and musical keyboard and fridge.
The Commissioner of Police directed that the suspects be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded. He also advised the citizens of Bauchi State to take note of the precautions to mitigate against cybercrime. They include:
1. Be careful of the information shared online (e.g pet names, Date of Birth etc).
2. Don’t click on anything in an unsolicited email/SMS asking to update or verify your account information.
3. Carefully examine the email address, URL, and spelling used in any correspondence.
4. Set up two factors (or multi-factor) authentication on any account that allows it.
5. Be careful what you download. Never open an email attachment from someone you don’t know.
6. Verify payment and purchase requests in person, if possible; or by calling the person to make sure it is legitimate.
