A mother and her daughter have been arrested over their alleged involvement in a romance scam that reportedly defrauded a Malta-based victim of more than N18millon
Penpushing reports that the Acting Police Public Liaison Officer, NPF-NCCC, Abuja, Unwana Imah, made this known in a statement, explaining that Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre arrested the suspects,
The statement added that the suspects were identified as Urowhe Diana (39) and her 22-year-old daughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru, stressing that preliminary investigations revealed that a Lagos resident, Emmanuel Amanfo, who is currently at large and identified as Rokibat’s stepfather, allegedly conspired with her to open and operate multiple bank accounts used for fraudulent transactions.
Penpushing further reports that the statement added that proceeds of the alleged romance scam were transferred through money transfer operators and direct deposits into several Nigerian bank accounts belonging to Rokibat.
The investigators alleged that the funds were subsequently moved into an Ecobank account owned by Urowhe Diana, where the money was allegedly spent.
“The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre is currently investigating a case involving computer-related fraud, identity theft and money laundering following an intelligence report received from the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit,” the statement read.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that one Emmanuel Amanfo, a resident of Lagos State, who is currently at large, allegedly conspired with his 22-year-old stepdaughter, Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru, to open and operate multiple bank accounts for fraudulent activities’.
“One of their victims was identified as a resident of Malta whose identity has been withheld. Further investigations showed that funds were transferred through Money Transfer Operators and direct deposits into several Nigerian bank accounts, all owned by Rokibat Imoru.
“Upon receipt, the funds were transferred into an Ecobank account belonging to her 39-year-old mother, Urowhe Diana, where the proceeds were allegedly expended’, the statement added
Penpushing also reports that the police stated that forensic analysis of the suspects’ digital footprints led to the arrest of the mother and daughter for their alleged active involvement in the romance scam operation.
The statement pointed out that efforts were ongoing to apprehend Amanfo, described as the husband of Urowhe Diana and stepfather of Rokibat Oluwasheyi Imoru, adding that investigations were still ongoing and the suspects would be charged in court upon conclusion of the probe.
Penpushing reports that the police authorities reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, to combating cybercrime and protecting Nigeria’s cyberspace.
Meanwhile, the statement added that the centre equally urged members of the public to report suspicious cyber-related activities through its official reporting channels.
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