Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have arrested one Olawole Sunday, a suspected internet fraudster, accused of purchasing bank account details from individuals to perpetrate financial crimes.

A statement on Monday by the EFCC’s head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, said Sunday’s fraudulent scheme involved recruiting young individuals to open multiple bank accounts.

Oyewale alleged that Sunday paid them between N25,000 and N50,000 for each account and collected their full banking details, including Automated Teller Machine cards.

He said trouble began when Sunday allegedly used the account details of one Uyi Eghosa to defraud an unsuspecting victim of N2m under the pretence of engaging in forex trading.

Oyewale said Eghosa was arrested and, during interrogation, claimed ignorance of the fraudulent use of his account.

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He added that Eghosa told investigators that he handed over his account details and ATM card to Sunday in exchange for a N25,000 payment.

He said, “Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested one Olawole Sunday, a suspected fraudster who specialised in buying bank accounts’ details from individuals with which he defrauds unsuspecting members of the public.

“Sunday’s modus operandi involved encouraging young people to open multiple bank accounts, pay them either N25,000 or N50,000 for each account and collect their bank details, including Automated Teller Machine cards.

“Sunday allegedly employed the account details of one Uyi Eghosa to defraud a petitioner of the sum of N2 million under the guise of trading in forex. The account owner, Eghosa, was arrested, and his disclosure that he was unaware that his account was used in defrauding members of the public led to Sunday’s arrest.”

Oyewale added that Sunday, upon his arrest, he confessed to the crime and would be charged to court as soon as investigations were completed.