The Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) arrested a 20-year-old man identified as John Ogah (also reported as John Ogar in some variations) in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State.

The suspect is accused of orchestrating a massive international romance and cryptocurrency scam totaling over N1 billion (approximately $620,000 USD).

How the Scam Worked (Modus Operandi)According to police investigations, Ogah utilized a sophisticated scheme often referred to as “Pig Butchering” (a combination of romance scam and crypto fraud). The method involved:

Impersonation: He posed as a citizen of the United States.Romance Deception: He approached victims—mostly foreigners—on social media and dating apps, building romantic relationships with them to gain their trust.Crypto Investment: After gaining the victims’ trust, he convinced them to invest in a fraudulent cryptocurrency trading platform.The Exit: Once the victims deposited their funds, Ogah would cut off communication and disappear with the money.

During the arrest, police operatives recovered several items believed to be proceeds of the crime, including:Vehicles: Two Mercedes Benz cars (a C300 and a GLA) and a Lexus RX350.Electronics: High-end mobile phones and laptops.Documents: Documents containing fraudulent identity information.

The suspect has reportedly confessed to the crime. The police stated that he will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the investigation.This arrest is part of the Nigerian Police’s intensified crackdown on cybercrime and internet fraud, particularly focusing on high-value schemes targeting foreign nationals.