Police nab 6 suspects over N7.7bn airtime, mobile data fraud

Abuja, Nigeria — Thursday

The Nigeria Police Force has uncovered a N7.7 billion cyber-enabled telecommunications fraud involving the illegal diversion of airtime and mobile data resources, leading to the arrest of six suspects linked to the scheme.
The arrests followed a detailed investigation by the National Cybercrime Centre (NCCC) after a major telecommunications company petitioned the police over suspicious and unauthorised activities detected within its billing and payment systems.

According to police sources, the suspects allegedly exploited vulnerabilities in the company’s digital infrastructure to unlawfully divert airtime and data, causing significant financial losses estimated at N7.7 billion. Investigators said the operation was sophisticated and carried out over a period of time before it was flagged by the affected firm.
The Nigeria Police Force confirmed that the suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations. Efforts are also ongoing to identify other individuals who may have played roles in the fraud.

The police reiterated their commitment to combating cybercrime and protecting critical digital and financial infrastructure across the country, warning that individuals involved in cyber-enabled fraud will be tracked and prosecuted.
Source: vanguardngr.com
Credit: X // PoliceNG