By Gwurld4026 
Identity Theft and Romance Scams: A Global Response
In a collaborative effort, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA) have arrested 11 individuals involved in cybercrimes targeting Japanese citizens. These suspects engaged in identity theft, romance scams, and computer-related fraud.
The operation began on April 3, 2024, when the NPF National Cybercrime Centre received reports of five cybercrime cases linked to 13 individuals operating from Nigeria. Investigations revealed that the suspects used social media platforms, particularly Instagram, to lure victims into fraudulent romantic relationships, deceiving them into transferring funds that were later converted into cryptocurrency and funneled into digital wallets in Nigeria.
To date, $33,320 has been recovered, with ongoing efforts to retrieve additional stolen funds and dismantle the syndicate.