he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday said it recovered and returned 10, 540 Euros (N2.314million) to a Polish victim of Internet love scam.
The agency’s Head of Media and Publicity of the agency, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, made the disclosure in a statement in Abuja.
The statement said: “The victim, simply identified as Jamina, was allegedly duped of 40,000 Euros by the suspect, Gabriel Oseremen Xavi, who operates a fake Facebook account with the name, Collins Page.
“The suspect was traced to Benin City, Edo State, where he was arrested by EFCC operatives following a petition by the victim.
“Speaking yesterday, at the Belgium Embassy, Abuja during the presentation of 10,540 Euro recovered from the suspected Internet fraudster, Ibrahim Lamorde, chairman of EFCC, urged Western diplomats to sensitise their citizens against Internet love scam.
“Lamorde also urged them to focus more on lonely elderly people who have been found to be easy prey.
The statement quoted Lamorde as saying: “All the assets acquired by the suspect from the proceeds of the crime will be disposed off at the conclusion of trial, and the money returned to the victim.”
The highpoint of the occasion was the presentation of the money to the Belgian Ambassador, Mr. Stephane De Loecker and his Polish counterpart, Mr. Andrzej Dycha, by Lamorde
On his part, De Loecker, thanked the Nigerian government as well as the EFCC for what he described as ‘its commitment to curbing Internet scams.’’
He said it was his first time of witnessing the restitution of a victim of scam by any law enforcement agency and urged the EFCC not to rest on its oars.
The envoy assured that the Belgian government would carry out rigorous campaigns to sensitise its citizens on the dangers of love scam.
In his remarks, Dycha, who also expressed his gratitude, extended invitation to the EFCC to be part of the meeting of association of EU Consuls to further “advise and sensitise them on Internet scam.”
The presentation was witnessed by the Deputy Head of Mission, Belgian Consulate, Veronique Bernad; Polish Consul, Jakub Budohoski, and EFCC officials.