N806 Million Scam: EFCC Arrests Suspected Fraudsters In Portharcourt

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 arrested three suspected internet fraudsters in Port Harcourt, Rivers State - Okpekereke Timothy, Stanley Odjighere, and Teminor Karo. The trio are part of a syndicate arrested over allegations of conspiracy, internet scam and stealing from one of the new generation banks to the tune of N806, 208,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Six Million Two Hundred and Eight Thousand Naira). Forty others are still at large.

The theft was perpetrated through a system glitch linked to the fraudsters, in which the bank suffered a huge loss of more than N806, 208,000.

The petitioner, who works in one of the new generation banks, alleged that a review of transactions involving the bank with Interswitch Nigeria limited revealed that the bank was not reimbursed for the transactions consummated on ATM terminals.

He observed that while many of the transactions involved were failed transactions, the amounts involved were not reversed, and all the customers were seen to have withdrawn the cash amounting to the sum, on each day of the occasion it happened.

The EFCC has so far confiscated the following property, which are proceeds of the crime from the suspects who are all within the South-South zone: one uncompleted 59-room self contain hostel, a twin bungalow in Oghara, Delta State, one uncompleted hotel project, one bungalow with a swimming pool in Ughelli, a bungalow in Agbaro , one Toyota Venza 2010 model, two Toyota Solara cars 2010 model, two Toyota Camry cars, 2010 model and two Honda Accord cars, 2005 model.

The suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigations are completed.

Wilson Uwujaren
Head, Media & Publicity
15th January, 2015