By Joy Baba
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said it arrested an alleged internet fraudster for obtaining 100,000 dollars from one Miss Hengameh Misepasi in a romance scam.
Mr Wilson Uwujaren, spokesman of the EFCC, in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, said the suspect was arrested in Port Harcourt by operatives of the commission.
The statement said the arrest followed a petition from the Nigerian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
“The suspect allegedly met the victim online in February 2013 and falsely represented himself as an American business executive on business visit to Nigeria.
“In the course of the internet affair, he promised his victim marriage and later began to make monetary demands on her, using various excuses.
“Once, he told her that he had problems with government officials and requested for a loan,” it said.
The statement had accused the suspect of cajoling Misepasi into partnering with him on a phantom timber business.
According to the statement, the last request the suspect made before his arrest was a demand for 10,000 dollars to enable him to travel to Denmark to meet her.
“It was while he was attempting to withdraw 100 dollars sent by the victim, instead of the 10,000 dollars requested through Western Union that he was arrested,” the statement added.
It said the suspect would be arraigned as soon as investigation was completed.
