At least seven nationals from Ghana and Nigeria are set to face trial in India after allegedly defrauding over 350 victims of more than $94,000, according to the Punjab State Police.
The suspects, all men aged between 25 and 35, were arrested by the Mohali Cyber Crime Cell of the Punjab Police in a sting operation that reportedly dismantled an international online fraud syndicate.
Indian newspaper The Indian Express reports that the accused had been operating out of a rented apartment in Noida, where they allegedly established a fake call centre to carry out their scams.
During the raid, police seized 79 smartphones, four laptops—including two Apple MacBooks—99 SIM cards (both Indian and foreign), and documents related to 31 fake bank accounts.
Authorities estimate the total value of the seized items at 30 lakh Rupee, while related bank transactions linked to the group reportedly total about 15 crore, equivalent to over $94,000.
Confirming the arrests, Senior Superintendent of Police Harmandeep Singh Hans said:
“The accused allegedly used fake social media profiles to befriend Indian and foreign nationals.
They would promise expensive gifts from abroad and later claim that customs had held the parcel, demanding money under the guise of clearance fees or taxes.
Using advanced cyber tools and covert strategies, our team managed to apprehend the culprits.”
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Rupinderdeep Kaur Sohi, who led the operation, added:
“The house from which they operated was rented by a Nigerian woman, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.
The suspects also opened bank accounts in private banks, and we are investigating the names on the accounts and how they procured the SIM cards.”
She further revealed that the scam not only targeted Indian citizens:
“The scammers also targeted fellow Nigerian citizens, deceiving them with fake job offers in India.”
The suspects have already appeared before a court in Mohali and have been remanded in police custody for two days to assist with further investigations.
This case comes shortly after the Telangana Anti-Narcotics Bureau in India uncovered another scheme involving Nigerian nationals accused of drug trafficking.
Investigations revealed the use of fake identities, expired visas, and fraudulent marriages to facilitate their illegal operations.
