Cyber Crime
In a First, Nigerian National Sentenced to 7-Year Rigorous Imprisonment for Cyber Fraud
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In a landmark ruling, Aligarh District Court has sentenced a Nigerian cybercriminal to 7 years imprisonment, marking the first conviction of a foreign cybercriminal in the cyber crime police stations of Uttar Pradesh. The individual was found guilty of conducting cyber fraud through a matrimonial website, posing as a real estate businessman with a fake profile.
The case unfolded in Aligarh’s Civil Lines area, where a teacher became the victim of cyber fraud, leading to the Nigerian’s 7 year imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 10 Lakh. The court has directed that fifty percent of the fine be compensated to the victim. This incident is the first conviction in cyber crime cases recorded in the newly established cyber crime police stations across the state, dating back to July 24, 2021.
The modus operandi involved the criminal befriending women on a matrimonial site, Shaadi.com, under the guise of an NRI businessman. He deceived a woman into paying Rs. 48 Lakh rupees over several transactions, claiming it was for customs and income tax charges on expensive gifts. The victim, who worked as a teacher in Saudi Arabia, realized the fraud and lodged a complaint at the cyber police station.
Investigations traced the transactions to a bank account in Chennai, registered under a woman named Ingrit Grant from Perambur, Tamil Nadu. Upon further inquiry, it was revealed that she, too, was a victim of fraud, having been conned out of 25,000 rupees. The investigation led to the discovery of a SIM card sent by the perpetrators to Grant.
Police traced the mobile number linked to the account to Uttam Nagar, Delhi, where the withdrawal transactions were made. With the aid of cyber cell analysis, they identified the suspect as Oneka Solomon Wisdom, alias Simon, from Chanakya Place, Pankha Road, Janakpuri, New Delhi. Further investigation revealed that Solomon had previously been arrested by Hyderabad police in a similar case of cyber fraud and was detained in Chanchalguda jail, Telangana.
After being summoned to Aligarh, Solomon was held in judicial custody until his trial commenced. The court’s decision, based on the evidence and testimonies presented, concluded with his conviction and sentencing on Saturday.
The investigation highlighted that Solomon had entered India on a business visa five years ago for a clothing trade, which eventually led him to engage in cyber fraud after incurring losses, alongside his accomplices.