EFCC arrests 792 in cybercrime raid on Chinese-led scam hub in Lagos. Romance and crypto fraud targeting foreigners exposed in Victoria Island building

In one of Nigeria’s largest anti-fraud operations, the EFCC arrested 792 in a cybercrime raid on a building in Victoria Island, Lagos, exposing a sophisticated international scam network.

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The operation targeted a facility known as Big Leaf, which appeared to be a legitimate tech firm but was in fact a front for a global romance and cryptocurrency fraud syndicate.

Among those arrested were 148 Chinese nationals, 40 Filipinos, and dozens of Nigerians trained to deceive foreign victims mainly Americans using fake online personas.

New recruits were lured with promises of ₦280,000 salaries and performance bonuses, only to find themselves trapped in 12-hour shifts impersonating romantic partners or crypto advisors on social media.

The scammers used Instagram and Facebook to hook victims into fraudulent “investment” schemes.

“They taught us to follow scripts and speak professionally,” said a 26-year-old Nigerian employee who spoke to FIJ. “It was all fake crypto, forex, everything.”

The EFCC raid, conducted on December 10, 2024, caught staff off guard. Witnesses said Chinese operatives fled with equipment while Nigerian workers were left stranded.

The EFCC arrests 792 in cybercrime raid not only signal the fall of a major fraud hub but also underscore deep flaws in immigration oversight and foreign corporate vetting.

Legal analysts describe the crackdown as a critical step toward dismantling international digital crime networks embedded in Nigeria.

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Digital evidence is currently under forensic review, and foreign embassies have been notified. Advocacy groups now urge stronger protections for young Nigerians vulnerable to exploitative employment disguised as tech jobs.