3 Nigerians arrested by Interpol for Online scamming using Trojan Virus

Three Nigerians suspected of engaging in global scamming have been arrested as part of an INTERPOL-led operation targeting malware cyber fraud across Southeast Asia.

The suspects were apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in a sting operation that took place simultaneously in Ajegunle, a Lagos suburb, and Benin City, the capital of Edo State.

The sting operation in Nigeria is part of a global operation nicknamed "Killer Bee," which involves INTERPOL National Central Bureaus (NCBs) and law enforcement in 11 Southeast Asian countries.

The arrests come after an INTERPOL Cyber Report linked a suspected Nigerian fraud syndicate operating from the West Coast of Africa to the usage of the Agent Tesla harmful Remote Access Trojan (RAT).

The men are suspected of using the RAT to redirect financial transactions and steal secret online connection credentials from corporate organizations in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, including oil and gas companies.

This is according to a statement released by the EFCC's spokesman, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, on Tuesday.

Hendrix Omorume, one of the scammers, was charged with three charges of significant financial fraud and was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison. The other defendants' case is still pending.

INTERPOL’s Director of Cybercrime Craig Jones Said:

“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,”

“Further arrests and prosecutions are foreseen across the world as intelligence continues to come in and investigations unfold,” added Mr Jones further stated. 

INTERPOL participated in the examination of laptops and phones seized by the EFCC during the arrests, assisting in the confirmation of the systematic deployment of "Agent Tesla" malware to gain access to corporate computers and shift money to their personal accounts.

EFCC’s Director of Operations, Abdulkarim Chukkol said:

 “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,” 

 “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,”

The three guys, ranging in age from 31 to 38, were each caught in possession of falsified documents such as bogus invoices and official letters.

The ASEAN Cybercrime Operations Desk, which is sponsored by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) 2.0 and backed by the Singapore government, is in charge of Operation Killer Bee.

Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nigeria, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam were among the operational partners.

Source: Vanguard