The Police Special Fraud Unit (PSFU) in Lagos has arrested three suspects over an alleged cyber blackmail and extortion scheme involving threats to release a victim’s nude photographs unless ransom was paid.
The unit’s spokesperson, DSP Ovie Ewhubare, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, saying the suspects — two men and a woman — were apprehended following a formal petition by a complainant who reported persistent threats and financial extortion.
According to Ewhubare, the victim had been receiving repeated calls from unknown individuals demanding money and threatening to publish her private images.
“The complainant received several phone calls in which the callers threatened to release her nude photographs to the public if she failed to pay them.
“Acting out of fear and emotional distress, she transferred money to the suspects.
“The situation escalated when the suspects demanded an additional N10 million prompting her to formally petition the police,” he said
He explained that upon receiving the complaint, the Commissioner of Police, PSFU, Mr Kayode Ojapinwa, directed the immediate deployment of operatives to investigate the case.
“The investigation led to the arrest of the three suspects.
“Investigations revealed that one of the suspects, gained unlawful access to the complainant’s mobile device and fraudulently transferred her nude photographs to his own device.
“Further findings indicated that he conspired with the other suspects and other accomplices currently at large to demand and receive money from the complainant in several tranches, ” he said
Ewhubare added that the suspects are currently in police custody and will be arraigned before a court of competent jurisdiction after investigations are concluded.
He said efforts were ongoing to track down other fleeing members of the syndicate and recover the proceeds of the alleged crime.
Reaffirming the unit’s resolve to combat cybercrime, the spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police urged members of the public to remain vigilant and protect their personal information.
“Ojapinwa reiterates the Unit’s commitment to combating cyber-enabled crimes and protecting citizens from exploitation.
“He also advised the public to safeguard their personal data, exercise caution when using digital devices, and promptly report any form of harassment or cybercrime to the police, ” Ewhubare said.
