The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a Nigerian national from Delhi in connection with an international cyber fraud syndicate that allegedly duped a Lucknow resident of nearly Rs 68 lakh through fake social media profiles posing as foreign nationals.
The accused, identified as Uchenwa, a native of Olo state in Nigeria, was arrested on Friday from a house in Khanpur, South Delhi. Uchenwa, 49, had been living in Delhi for several years. Police recovered three mobile phones and four SIM cards from his possession during the arrest.
Modus Operandi of the Gang
According to STF officials, the gang created fake profiles of citizens from the United States and the United Kingdom on social media platforms. They used these profiles to befriend Indian men and women, trapping them emotionally. Later, the victims were duped on the pretext of sending expensive gifts, foreign currency, and luxury items to India.
Investigators said that after gaining the victims' trust, the fraudsters would contact them posing as customs or income tax officials. These fake officials would demand money for customs duty, GST, income tax, or clearance charges to release the supposed gifts.
The Lucknow Case
The STF investigation began after a man from Daliganj in Lucknow lodged a complaint, alleging he was cheated of around Rs 68 lakh by the gang. The complainant stated that he received a friend request on Facebook in August 2025 from a woman who identified herself as 'Doris William,' purportedly from England.
After developing an emotional connection, the woman allegedly told him she would visit India carrying pounds worth nearly Rs 3 crore. Subsequently, the victim received calls from people posing as customs officials, who claimed that the foreign woman had been detained at Delhi airport because she was carrying a huge amount of foreign currency.
Sequence of Payments
The victim was first asked to pay Rs 61,500 as customs clearance charges through a UPI account provided by the accused. After the initial payment, the fraudsters repeatedly demanded money under various pretexts. The victim transferred nearly Rs 40 lakh to different accounts.
Later, another fraudster posing as a remittance officer allegedly persuaded him to transfer an additional Rs 28 lakh. The fraudulent transactions reportedly continued until January 2026 before the victim realized he had been cheated and approached the police.
Arrest and Investigation
The STF said the cyber team launched an operation under the supervision of ASP Vishal Vikram Singh. Technical surveillance and informer inputs eventually led to the arrest of the accused from Delhi. Uchenwa admitted that he had come to India in 2010 for a garment business but later shifted to cyber fraud after suffering financial losses.
