Ninety-nine foreign nationals have been deported from Nigeria following convictions for cyber-terrorism and internet fraud related to cryptocurrency romance scams.
The deportees, including 60 Chinese nationals and 39 Filipinos, were part of a larger crackdown that saw 792 individuals arrested in Lagos in December 2024.
These scammers weren’t just passing love notes—they were passing empty crypto wallets.
These digital Casanovas offered sweet nothings while quietly emptying their victims’ digital fortunes.
Using romance narratives as bait, they lured victims through dating apps and social media platforms, eventually persuading them to invest in bogus cryptocurrency opportunities.
It’s like being invited to a fancy dinner, only to discover the restaurant doesn’t exist and your date just ran off with your wallet.
The sophistication of these operations was remarkable, employing fake profiles, phishing techniques, and social engineering tactics.
Victims—predominantly from the Americas and Europe—often lost their life savings in these schemes.
The scammers exploited Nigeria’s cybersecurity vulnerabilities and frequently enlisted local accomplices known as “Yahoo Boys.”
According to an Al Jazeera report, the operation specifically targeted cybercriminals operating sophisticated schemes across international borders.
This mass deportation represents a significant escalation in Nigeria’s fight against transnational online fraud.
The operation was bolstered by international collaboration, with Interpol coordinating efforts across 18 African nations and the UK.
Similar to the Nigeria operation, Zambia recently disrupted an investment fraud scheme that affected approximately 65,000 victims with losses totaling $300 million.
These joint initiatives facilitated intelligence sharing on suspicious domains and criminal infrastructure.
Financial losses from these scams have reached staggering figures.
Romance scam losses in related cases exceed $2.5 million per instance, while larger investment frauds have affected up to 65,000 victims with losses totaling $300 million.
Protecting yourself requires staying vigilant and recognizing the warning signs of investment scams before they compromise your financial security.
All deportees underwent legal proceedings in Nigeria before expulsion, facing charges ranging from cyber-terrorism to money laundering.
Authorities seized considerable assets during the operations, including electronics, cash, jewelry, and vehicles worth over $37 million.
As investigations continue, further arrests and deportations are anticipated.
This crackdown signals Nigeria’s strengthened commitment to combating cryptocurrency-related fraud and protecting potential victims worldwide from the heartbreak of romance scams—and the bank account breaks that follow.
