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A Nigerian man who reportedly swindled millions from his victims with his accomplices has been caught by the Hajdú-Bihar county police in Budapest, reports Police.hu. According to reports, the gang leader lived expensively, wore luxurious clothes, financed expensive trips, and was fond of throwing money around.
The gang members reportedly used dating sites to stalk and look for victims. Allegedly, they mainly sought to contact wealthy middle-aged or older women, whom they tried to lure in according to a predefined script. They were careful to create a sympathetic, almost caring image of themselves. Once the necessary trust was established, the next step was taken: on some pretext or other, they urgently asked for money. Investigations show that in many cases the fraudsters achieved their aim and received millions.
Police in Hajdú-Bihar County (eastern Hungary) first cracked down on Nigerian fraudsters active in Hungary last autumn. They arrested three foreign men and a Hungarian woman who were suspected of preying on victims worldwide.
Among the victims was one who had allegedly been swindled out of 70 million forints (169,700 euros).
However, following the arrests last October, the cyber group continued its work. The police soon caught sight of a foreign national linked to the criminal organization. He was suspected to be one of the leaders of the gang, as evidenced by the fact that a significant part of the money was channeled to him.
He lived on a rather large scale, wore luxury clothes, financed expensive trips, and was a regular in Budapest night clubs, throwing money around with both hands.
The 29-year-old Nigerian man was arrested by detectives from the Cívis Public Support Unit in Budapest on January 8. He faces charges of money laundering. During the proceedings, it was also discovered that at the man’s request, his girlfriend had opened a separate bank account, where the money had been deposited. The young Hungarian woman was questioned for the offense of negligent money laundering and is free to defend herself.
Via Police.hu, Featured photo via Pixabay