A 49-year-old Nigerian national identified as Uchenwa has been arrested in India over his alleged involvement in an international cyber fraud syndicate accused of targeting victims through fake online relationships and fraudulent gift schemes.
The suspect was arrested by operatives of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Friday, May 15, 2026, during an operation carried out at a residence in Khanpur, South Delhi.
According to Indian authorities, Uchenwa was allegedly part of a sophisticated cybercrime network that created fake profiles of citizens from the United States and the United Kingdom on social media platforms to deceive unsuspecting victims in India.
Investigators said the syndicate specialised in emotionally manipulating victims by pretending to establish romantic relationships before defrauding them under the guise of sending expensive gifts, luxury items and foreign currency into the country.
The arrest followed investigations into a complaint filed by a resident of Daliganj in Lucknow, who alleged that he was defrauded of approximately Rs 68 lakh by members of the syndicate.
Officials disclosed that the suspect had reportedly been living in Delhi for several years before his arrest.
During the operation, security operatives reportedly recovered three mobile phones and four SIM cards believed to have been used in carrying out fraudulent activities.
According to the STF, the cyber fraud network operated by creating fake online identities, mostly portraying themselves as foreign nationals from the UK or US, to lure victims into online relationships.
The victims, police said, were gradually drawn into emotional conversations and convinced that valuable gifts, foreign currency or luxury items were being shipped to India for them.
Investigators explained that after gaining the trust of victims, other members of the syndicate would allegedly contact them while impersonating customs officials, income tax officers or airport clearance agents.
The fake officials would then inform the victims that the parcels or foreign currency had arrived in India but had been seized due to customs regulations or tax-related issues.
Victims were thereafter instructed to make payments for customs clearance, Goods and Services Tax (GST), remittance charges or other fabricated fees before the supposed items could be released.
According to police findings, the investigation began after a Lucknow resident reported that he had been scammed after receiving a Facebook friend request in August 2025 from a woman identifying herself as “Doris William,” who claimed to be based in England.
The complainant reportedly developed an online relationship with the woman over time.
Police said the woman later informed him that she intended to travel to India carrying foreign currency valued at nearly Rs 3 crore.
Shortly afterwards, the victim allegedly began receiving calls from individuals posing as customs officials who claimed that the woman had been detained at Delhi airport for carrying a huge amount of foreign currency.
The fraudsters allegedly demanded Rs 61,500 from the victim as customs clearance charges and provided a UPI account for payment.
After the initial transfer, the victim was repeatedly contacted and instructed to make additional payments for different charges, including taxes, clearance fees and other fabricated levies.
Investigators said the victim eventually transferred nearly Rs 40 lakh to several bank accounts linked to the syndicate.
Police further stated that another member of the network later contacted the victim while pretending to be a remittance officer and allegedly convinced him to transfer an additional Rs 28 lakh.
The fraudulent transactions reportedly continued until January 2026 before the victim eventually realised he had been deceived and reported the matter to law enforcement authorities.
Following the complaint, the Uttar Pradesh STF reportedly launched a coordinated cybercrime investigation under the supervision of Assistant Superintendent of Police Vishal Vikram Singh.
Authorities said the operation involved technical surveillance, intelligence gathering and tracking of digital communication channels used by the suspects.
The investigation eventually led operatives to the residence in South Delhi where Uchenwa was arrested.
According to STF officials, the suspect allegedly confessed during interrogation that he initially came to India in 2010 to engage in garment business activities.
However, he reportedly claimed that after suffering heavy financial losses, he became involved in cyber fraud operations.
Indian authorities said investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the syndicate believed to be operating both within and outside India.
The police are also reportedly tracing financial transactions connected to the case and investigating whether additional victims may have been targeted by the network.
Cybercrime involving fake online relationships and romance scams has become a growing concern globally, with fraudsters increasingly exploiting social media platforms and digital communication tools to target unsuspecting individuals.
Law enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned members of the public to exercise caution when interacting with strangers online, especially individuals who make promises involving gifts, money transfers or overseas shipments.
Authorities also advise people to verify identities carefully and avoid sending money to unknown persons or accounts under suspicious circumstances.
The arrest of the Nigerian suspect has since attracted attention in both India and Nigeria, with investigators expected to continue efforts aimed at dismantling the wider international cyber fraud syndicate allegedly linked to the case.
