Two Nigerian nationals were arrested by Gurgaon police cybercrime investigators in India for allegedly using WhatsApp to pose as directors of Indian businesses in order to swindle workers.
According to authorities, the suspects persuaded victims to deposit money into syndicate-controlled bank accounts.
The suspects have been identified as Ojo Uyiosa and another Nigerian named James, according to a report published by the Times of India on Wednesday.
Following the discovery of a suspect phone number connected to the plot, investigators made the arrests last Saturday.
According to police investigations, James entered India in 2023 on a tourist visa, while Uyiosa arrived in 2014 on a student visa.
Investigators claim that the two, who were allegedly collaborating with other Nigerian nationals, pretended to be company executives and coerced staff members into making urgent bank transactions, which were subsequently distributed among the group.
According to authorities, a Bandhan Bank account linked to the operation received a transfer of almost 10 lakh rupees, or more over N15 million.
Two previous cybercrime complaints had alerted the account.
Subsequent research showed that the suspects had used the same technique in several related fraud cases.
Following the filing of a formal case, both suspects were arraigned in court on Sunday and placed under three days of police custody remand.
The suspects mainly utilized WhatsApp to interact with victims, according to the cybercrime section, while accomplices supplied bank accounts for the illegal money to be received.
Authorities are now working to track down more assets, identify other network participants, and determine the entire scope of the scam, after seizing two cell phones and three SIM cards that were reportedly used in it.
