Over and over again,this can not be overemphasised,BEWARE OF SCAMMERS be internet security compliant.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has arrested a 21 year old Internet fraudsters, Olufemi Akinlaja in an attempt to swindle a serving army Brigadier General through yahoo mail chat.
The accused was arrested after the victim lodged a complain to the EFCC regarding the blockage of his yahoo account by unknown persons who now used the mail box to send scam mails to his friends requesting for funds under false pretence.

The complainant, Brigadier General J. O. Komolafe of Department of Policy and Plans, Defense Headquarters, Abuja’’ alleged that on 23rd June, 2009, he got an e–email message purportedly emanated from yahoo mail directing that he should update his records by forwarding his yahoo I’d and passwords which he did.

That having complied with the fictitious instruction he has not been able to access his e-mail box while he has been receiving messages from his friends that the fraudsters has been using his e-mail to solicit for financial assistance and recharge cards from them.

Upon the receipt of the petition, the complainant, Gen. Komolafe, was contacted and he volunteered his statement. Through yahoo chat, operatives were able to communicate with the suspect, posing as J. O. Komolafe’s acquaintance. Through this medium, the suspect gave his phone number, necessitating a letter of investigation of his activities for the call data record to Zain.
Furthermore, the suspect also gave an account number with intercontinental Bank for money to be paid in. Upon the receipt, Intercontinental bank in Lagos was contacted and instructed to place the sum of N40, 000 into the account with an alert so as to apprehend the suspect upon withdrawal.

The suspects, after failed attempts of using ATM card to withdraw the money decided to walk into the bank premise to lodge a complaint about the response he got from the ATM Machine which had informed him that the card is invalid.

While awaiting answers and result to the complaint lodged, they were apprehended at Intercontinental bank Adeniran Ogunsaya branch in Surulere, by the bank security officers and handed over to EFCC operatives in Lagos.

The suspect, Olufemi, who was arrested with his friend, Sherrif Afolabi Adebayo whose account number was used for the withdrawal, said Olufemi only told him his brother was sending some money to him. “I know Olufemi as a friend, but not that we hang out together. He came to my workshop where I work as a mechanic and asked if I can give him my account details to enable him collect the money. I gave him, and the next day he came back to tell me that the money has been sent and that we should go to the ATM to cash the money. I got to the ATM and was told my card was invalid. Tried a different location and we got the same. So I decided to go to my bank to lodge a complain. They gave me a form to fill and it was while we were filling it that some men came; they showed us police ID cards and arrested us. I tried to find out what was going on, but was asked to be quiet. I was confused as to why a simple complain about an ATM card error will amount to arrest.”

Afolabi said he didn’t know that Olufemi’s intention was to use his account to defraud people until they came to the EFCC Lagos office where their offences were read to them.

Olufemi admitted that Afolabi is only a victim of circumstance. He confessed to all allegations and begged for forgiveness. He said he got the General’s e-mail details by sending a fake web page purportedly claimed to have emanated from yahoo mails asking him to update his yahoo account. It was through the cloned web page that he got the General’s friend’s contacts and began to obtain cash and sometimes recharge cards from them claiming to be the General.

“I will not say I didn’t do it. I am guilty of all the crimes. One day I went to the cyber café and designed the web page. I sent this web page to numerous recipients asking them to change their yahoo Ids and passwords. I have software that can divert all their responses to my own personal mail box from where I now get their contact details. The General’s own was part of it. I sent numerous mails to his friends asking them to send me money to sort out an emergency family problem through a friend whose name I gave as Olufemi Akinlaja that happens to be my own name. Some of them responded thinking it was the General. The first money I got was 20,000 naira. Then another 20,000 was sent by another person. I collected the first 20,000 with my ATM card, but couldn’t cash the second 20,000 because I was told that my card was blocked. I lodged a complain, but when I saw the way the customer care lady at my bank was looking at me, I careful ran away thinking there was trouble”, Olufemi said.

Olufemi further confessed that rather than quit, he sent another email to one of the General’s friends in Makurdi telling him the same story. He demanded for the sum of 40,000 naira this time. The man whom he called Umar asked him to send his account number, but Olufemi gave the account details of his friend who happens to be Afolabi because he assumes that his own account has been suspected.

It was in the process of cashing the money that luck ran against them and they were arrested. He, however, said Afolabi is innocent, as he doesn’t know it was a scam.

Further investigations carried out by the EFCC so far shows that the principal suspect, Olufemi Akinlaja has benefited from recharge cards from the Generals acquaintances and has initially withdrawn the sum of N20, 000 sent to his own account. That Afolabi Adebayo the 2nd suspect gave his account number to his friend, Olufemi Adelaja the principal suspect without knowing the actual reason for which his friend requested for his assistance.

Afolabi was however released on bail while Olufemi will be charged to court for internet scam and obtaining money by false pretences.