The Rivers State Police Command has apprehended two suspects, Michael Onyedikachi and Akachukwu Benedict, in connection with a cyber scam that defrauded a Canada-based Nigerian of N110 million over two years
The command’s spokesperson,Grace Iringe-Koko disclosed this development in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, highlighting the suspects’ elaborate scheme targeting Sandra Austin, a Nigerian living in Ontario, Canada.
The fraud reportedly began in February 2022 when Sandra received a Facebook friend request from an account bearing the name “Engineer Desmond Chibuike Okechukwu.”
Initially hesitant, she eventually accepted the request, leading to frequent online interactions. The individual behind the account, posing as an engineer, claimed expertise in constructing high-end properties in Nigeria.
Iringe-Koko stated: “The scammer shared photos of luxury homes he allegedly built in locations like Ajah, Lagos, and convinced Sandra to move their discussions to WhatsApp. She expressed interest in one of the properties he showcased, supposedly valued at N150 million.”
Sandra transferred a total of N110 million in multiple transactions to a bank account provided by the scammer between 2022 and 2024. However, after making a final payment of N30 million, she was abruptly blocked on all communication platforms.
The ordeal caused Sandra to suffer a spike in blood pressure, leading to hospitalization. Determined to seek justice, she alerted her family in Nigeria, who reported the matter to the police. The Rivers State Commissioner of Police referred the case to the C4i Intelligence Unit for investigation.
“The suspects tried to intimidate the victim to dissuade her from involving law enforcement,” Iringe-Koko said. “However, intelligence-led policing efforts led to the arrest of Michael Onyedikachi and his accomplice, Akachukwu Benedict.”
Michael Onyedikachi, the primary suspect, confessed to creating the “Engineer Desmond” account and admitted to using images of construction projects downloaded online to deceive Sandra. Police also discovered a shrine in his residence, believed to be linked to his fraudulent activities.
Iringe-Koko revealed: “Michael spent eight months in Ghana learning online fraud tactics. His arrest paved the way for the capture of 29-year-old Akachukwu Benedict in Enugu, where he had booked a hotel suite for a year.”
Akachukwu admitted to introducing Michael to cybercrime in 2022 and confessed to defrauding an American woman of $600 in 2021. Both suspects employed cloned SIM cards and cryptocurrency wallets to evade detection.
Items recovered during the investigation included a Toyota Corolla, land documents, laptops, and mobile phones.
“The commitment of the C4i Intelligence Unit to combating cybercrime and securing justice for victims is evident in this case,” Iringe-Koko concluded. “Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other accomplices, and the suspects will face court proceedings upon the completion of the investigation.”
