7 Ghanaian, Nigerian nationals to face trial in India over online scam
The arrests were made following a sting operation conducted by the Mohali Cyber Crime Cell of Punjab’s State Police. The suspects, aged between 25 and 35, were reportedly operating from a rented apartment in Noida, where they had set up what authorities describe as a fake call center used to execute their scams.
Seven young men from Ghana and Nigeria are facing criminal prosecution in India after being arrested in connection with a large-scale international cyber fraud operation that allegedly defrauded over 350 victims of more than $94,000.
The arrests were made following a sting operation conducted by the Mohali Cyber Crime Cell of Punjab’s State Police. The suspects, aged between 25 and 35, were reportedly operating from a rented apartment in Noida, where they had set up what authorities describe as a fake call center used to execute their scams.
Fake Profiles and False Promises
According to police sources, the accused created fraudulent social media accounts to impersonate wealthy foreigners. They lured victims with promises of expensive gifts and luxury items from abroad. Once victims were convinced, they were told their packages had been seized by customs authorities, and were pressured into paying hefty “clearance fees” and “taxes” to release the fake shipments.
Senior Superintendent of Police Harmandeep Singh Hans confirmed that more than 350 individuals were deceived through this elaborate scheme.
“Our team managed to track down and apprehend the suspects using sophisticated cyber tools. They exploited social media platforms to manipulate and extort their victims under false pretenses,” he stated.
Major Seizures Made
A police raid on the Noida apartment led to the seizure of a significant haul of electronic and financial evidence:
79 smartphones
4 laptops, including 2 Apple MacBooks
99 SIM cards (a mix of Indian and foreign numbers)
Documents tied to 31 fake bank accounts
The estimated value of the recovered items stands at 30 lakh Rupees, while financial transactions linked to the group have been traced to about 15 crore Rupees — roughly $94,000 USD.
Ongoing Investigations and Wider Implications
Deputy Superintendent of Police Rupinderdeep Kaur Sohi, who led the operation, revealed that the apartment was originally leased by a Nigerian woman, who is currently missing and believed to have played a significant role in the operation.
“We’re now investigating the origins of the bank accounts, how the SIM cards were procured, and whether local facilitators were involved,” she said.
Interestingly, the scam also targeted fellow Nigerians, many of whom were tricked into paying fees for fake job offers supposedly available in India.
Legal Action and Broader Context
The suspects have already made a preliminary court appearance in Mohali and have been remanded into police custody for two days to assist with ongoing investigations.
This latest arrest comes on the heels of another high-profile case in India, where Nigerian nationals were implicated in a drug trafficking network uncovered by the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau. That case exposed the use of fake identities, expired visas, and sham marriages to facilitate illegal operations across Indian cities.
Indian authorities have expressed growing concern over the involvement of foreign nationals in organised cybercrime and are reportedly tightening immigration and telecommunications regulations in response.
