Fraudsters

By Maryam Ahmad

German police have arrested 16 people in a major operation against an international network behind a telephone fraud known as the “grandchild scam.”

The Berlin State Criminal Police Office stated that the operation involved officers from all German states, as well as Europol and police forces in Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.

Several call centres linked to the scam were shut down, and 44 planned fraud attempts — worth about €2 million (₦3.9 billion) — were prevented.

In the scheme, fraudsters call elderly victims pretending to be relatives in urgent need of money. In some cases, they claim to have caused a fatal road accident and are followed by fake police officers demanding cash to avoid prosecution.

The suspects, aged between 22 and 63, included callers and money collectors. Among them is a 26-year-old Slovakian woman accused of similar crimes in her country.

Police said the coordinated raids took place between mid-September and late October.

By Anwar Usman

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested 21 suspected internet fraudsters in Bauchi State.

The operation was conducted by the commission’s Gombe Zonal Directorate on Saturday, March 15, 2025, following acredible report on the suspects’ alleged involvement in cybercrime.

According to a statement from the EFCC on its X handle, the suspects were arrested on Monday in the Kaure New Government Reservation Area and Awala, Maiduguri Road, in Bauchi.

During the operation, several luxury vehicles were recovered, including a BMW car and a Toyota Camry, among others.

The EFCC reiterated that the suspects would be prosecuted when investigations are completed. 

“Items recovered from them at the point of arrest include one BMW and Toyota Camry cars, three PlayStation 5, 30 expensive phones, one flat-screen television set, six Point of Sale, POS, machines, four iPads, and five laptops,” the statement further revealed.

By Uzair Adam Imam

In a recent verdict, the Gombe State High Court delivered justice to perpetrators of employment scams, sending a strong message against fraud.

Ibrahim Abdullahi and Umar Usman found themselves on the wrong side of the law, charged with obtaining N682,847 under false pretenses.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed that Abdullahi and Usman, separately arraigned, faced charges related to cheating and employment scams.

Abdullahi was accused of obtaining the Polaris ATM card of Aminu Adamu Idris and Muhammed Saidu Jibril under false employment promises, subsequently misusing it to secure a loan without consent.

Both defendants pleaded guilty upon arraignment. The prosecuting attorney, A.B. Kware, urged the court to consider appropriate sentencing, while the defendants’ attorney, R.A. Anthony, appealed for leniency, citing their regret and first-time offender status.

Judge Kereng, after finding them guilty, sentenced Abdullahi and Usman to one and two years in jail, respectively, alongside a N50,000 fine each.

In another case, Mohammed Soja faced six years imprisonment for similar fraud charges but was offered a chance for rehabilitation due to his father’s medical condition, with an option of a N150,000 fine.

Previously, Alhaji Abdullahi Usman received a 10-year sentence for obtaining goods under false pretenses.

The EFCC had arraigned Usman on one count in 2018 after he deceived a store owner in Gombe.

These verdicts underscore the judiciary’s commitment to combating fraud and protecting citizens from exploitation.

They serve as a reminder of the importance of due diligence in financial transactions and employment opportunities, emphasizing the need for vigilance against fraudulent schemes.