Police arrest 2 over use of fake Facebook account as Enugu dep gov, others

POLICE detectives in Enugu have arrested two persons suspected to be involved in internet fraud.

The suspects were alleged to have been operating a fake Facebook account in the name of the Enugu State deputy governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo.

Confirming the development, the state Police Public Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ebere Amarizu, said the suspects specialised in the use of prominent  persons’ profile to open Facebook account, with a view to making unsuspecting members of the public believe that they were the real persons on the said profiles and consequently, defraud them after presenting stories of contract as highly placed persons.

Amarizu gave the names of the suspects as Richard (surname withheld) 36 years, a native of Amokohia in Imo State, residing at N0 20 Mbano camp Obigbo Portharcourt, Rivers State and Odinaka (surname withheld) 40 years, a native of Mbaitoli in Imo State, also residing at Omagwa, Rivers State.

The police image maker stated that: “The suspects have been in the business of creating fake Facebook account of identified prominent/eminent persons and use same to lure unsuspecting members of the  public  into believing that they are the persons they are impersonating and present a contract scenario through which their victims are duped.

“The suspects  had earlier created a Facebook profile account with the Enugu State deputy governor,  Cecilia Ezeilo and allegedly were using same to dupe unsuspecting members of the public  to the tune of  N635,ooo on account of  money for  an award of contract for desirous job/contract seekers.”

According to Amarizu, “the suspects were nabbed on October 2 in Rivers State through intelligence information by the operatives of the Anti-Kidnap Unit of the Enugu State Police Command.

“The suspects, who are now helping the operatives in their investigations, are regretting their actions which they have blamed on their continual quest to get rich quick.

“They further revealed that what they do is to create a Facebook account of prominent government/eminent persons and pretend to be that person and use same to defraud people by asking them to pay some amount of money for jobs/contracts through  a certain bank account that they will provide.”