Nigerian Students Detained In Malaysia Over N125.2 Internet Scam

Five Nigerian students have been apprehended in Malaysia over an involvement in internet fraud resulting to the sum of N125.2 million (RM2.4 million) in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

The students, between the ages of 20 and 30, studying Information Technology in a leading private college in Kuala Lumpur, were arrested on June 30, 2015, in different areas in the country, including Petaling Jaya, Cyberjaya, Damansara and Kuala Lumpur.

The Penang Commercial Crimes chief ACP Azmi Adam said police also detained two local women, aged 40 and 55, who are the owners of the accounts used by the gang.

The police also seized five laptops, 20 smart phones, ATM cards, SIM cards and documents believed to have been used to con their victims.

The 62-year-old victim said he received an e-mail from the syndicate in March, informing him that he was among 50 recipients selected to receive RM15.9 million from the government of the United States.

“The e-mail requested the victim to follow certain procedures to ensure he did not miss the opportunity.

Believing the contents of the e-mail, the victim carried out 51 transactions involving money, to accounts numbers given by the syndicate before he later realised it was a scam. He later lodged a police report,” he said.

Police have also found transactions involving up to RM1 million that were banked in a neighbouring country.