The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a woman, Elizabeth Thamson, for allegedly defrauding three individuals of ₦8.5 million under the pretext of securing Canadian work visas for them.
Her arrest followed the command’s recent warning to residents about the surge in online fraud cases, including fake dating sites, travel and visa scams, and other internet-based schemes targeting unsuspecting victims.
In a statement on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, said the victims were deceived into believing that their visas had been approved.
“The victims narrated that after undergoing biometric verification as instructed by the suspect, they were informed that their visas had been approved,” Odutola stated.
However, the victims later discovered the documents were fake after presenting them at the Visa Facilitation Service (VFS) office in Lagos for verification.
Odutola added that the suspect confessed to the crime during interrogation, revealing that she had been operating a fraudulent migration scheme targeting individuals desperate for employment abroad.
The State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered a discreet investigation into the case and urged members of the public to remain cautious.
“He cautioned members of the public, especially young people, to exercise due diligence when seeking travel opportunities, verify information through official channels, and avoid patronising touts or unverified agents for visa processing,” the statement added.
Despite repeated police warnings and the experiences of numerous victims, many Nigerians continue to fall prey to fake travel agents.
Earlier in June, Global Tribune reported that the Nigeria Police rescued a Ghanaian national, Sammed Iddrisu, who was allegedly trafficked into the country under the false promise of processing travel documents for migration to Europe.
