The Delta State Police Command has arrested three suspected members of a fraud syndicate accused of impersonating prominent government officials to defraud unsuspecting members of the public, including a community leader who allegedly lost ₦5.475 million in a fake appointment scheme.
The suspects, identified as Aghogho Okpogbodu, 51; Moses Exist, 48; and Benjamin Owah, 49, were arrested following an investigation by detectives attached to the Area Command, Effurun.
The police said preliminary findings indicated that the suspects allegedly impersonated high-ranking government officials and exploited the identities of public office holders to deceive their victims with promises of employment, political appointments and other government-related privileges.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, SP Bright Edafe, the suspects allegedly used SIM cards purportedly registered in the names of prominent public officials, including the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume; the Director of Protocol to the Delta State Governor, Chief Hon. Onoriode Sunday; and Hon. Prince Johnson Erijo, identified in the statement as Chief of Staff to the Delta State Governor.
The police further alleged that the suspects used a caller-identification application on mobile phones to reinforce their deception by displaying the names of the officials they allegedly impersonated when making calls to prospective victims.
The application, which displays names associated with incoming telephone numbers, was allegedly exploited by the suspects to create the impression that their calls originated from the government officials whose identities they purportedly assumed.
In one of the alleged fraudulent transactions, the suspects reportedly impersonated the Director of Protocol to the Delta State Governor and allegedly defrauded a community leader from Otu-Jeremi of ₦5,475,000.
The victim was allegedly induced to part with the money under the false pretence that the suspects could facilitate his appointment as President-General of his community.
The arrest of the three suspects followed investigations into the alleged fraudulent activities, while a search of their premises reportedly led to the recovery of items believed to be relevant to the ongoing investigation.
Items recovered, according to the police, included seven mobile phones, 17 SIM cards, 12 automated teller machine (ATM) cards bearing the names of different account holders, one Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal and documents containing financial and identification information belonging to various individuals.
The police said the recovered items were being examined as part of efforts to establish the full extent of the suspects’ alleged activities, identify other possible victims and determine whether additional accomplices were involved in the scheme.
The Command added that investigations were ongoing, with a view to uncovering the network behind the alleged impersonation and fraud.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel E. Erale, warned members of the public against relying solely on caller-identification applications to establish the identity of individuals contacting them, particularly when such calls involve requests for money or promises of government appointments.
Erale urged residents to verify claims of official representation through established and independently confirmed channels before engaging in financial transactions or making payments in anticipation of political appointments, employment opportunities or other government benefits.
He also called on anyone who might have fallen victim to the suspects or similar fraudulent schemes to come forward with credible information that could assist investigators in identifying other victims and strengthening the ongoing inquiry.
The police commissioner reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to combating fraud and other criminal activities, adding that individuals found culpable would be brought to justice in accordance with the law.
The statement was signed by Edafe, the Police Public Relations Officer, Delta State Command, Asaba.
