The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a Nigerian national from Delhi for allegedly operating an organised cyber fraud racket that targeted Indian citizens through fake social media identities. According to investigators, the accused posed as a citizen of the United States or the United Kingdom, befriended victims online, and allegedly duped them of lakhs of rupees by promising expensive gifts and foreign currency parcels. During the joint operation, authorities also recovered 5.085 kilograms of methamphetamine, valued at over ₹10 crore in the international market, along with five mobile phones and two passports.
The accused has been identified as Obase Prosper (27), who was residing in Raju Park, South Delhi. STF officials said he arrived in India in 2023 on a medical visa but allegedly continued to stay in the country illegally after his visa expired.
According to investigators, the accused allegedly created fake profiles on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, posing as a US or UK citizen to befriend men and women in India and abroad. After gaining their trust, he would allegedly claim to be sending expensive gifts, foreign currency, or valuable parcels.
Police alleged that victims were later contacted by members of the syndicate impersonating officials from the Customs Department or the Income Tax Department, who falsely claimed that the parcels had been detained at the airport. Victims were then allegedly persuaded to pay customs duty, taxes, or other clearance charges to secure the release of the parcels. Investigators believe the gang used this modus operandi to cheat multiple victims of substantial amounts of money.
During the investigation, police found that a resident of Daliganj in Lucknow was allegedly defrauded of ₹68 lakh after being contacted through Facebook. Another accused, identified as Uchenwa, is also alleged to have played a role in the fraud. A criminal case had already been registered in connection with the incident, and the STF had been searching for the accused as part of the ongoing investigation.
During interrogation, Obase Prosper allegedly disclosed that several other foreign nationals were part of the organised syndicate. Investigators suspect that some members continued living in India illegally after the expiry of their visas while posing as American or British citizens to target Indian as well as foreign victims through social media platforms.
The STF said one of Prosper’s associates had already been arrested in Delhi on May 15. Subsequent investigation indicated Prosper’s alleged involvement in narcotics trafficking, following which the STF conducted a joint operation with the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and arrested him.
According to renowned cybercrime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh, “Cybercriminals posing as foreign nationals and promising expensive gifts or foreign currency continue to exploit social engineering techniques to deceive victims. The fraud is typically followed by fake calls from individuals impersonating customs, income tax, or courier officials demanding clearance charges. People should never trust unsolicited gift offers from unknown individuals or make payments without independently verifying the claims.”
Police said the investigation is continuing to analyse the seized digital devices, financial transactions, and international links to identify the full cyber fraud and narcotics trafficking network. Efforts are also underway to trace and apprehend other members of the alleged syndicate.
