19-05-2025
Nigerian cyberfraud kingpin arrested for duping businessman of Rs 1.25cr
Vadodara: Cybercrime investigators have arrested a Nigerian national, Gabriel Onyeka, for allegedly defrauding a Vadodara-based businessman of ₹1.25 crore in a sophisticated online scam.
Onyeka, 41, was apprehended from his residence in Kalyan, Maharashtra, and is believed to be the mastermind behind an organized cyber racket.
Assistant commissioner of police (cybercrime) Mayursinh Rajput said Onyeka posed as a senior executive of a reputed pharmaceutical company and contacted the businessman under the pretense of placing a bulk order for Plukenetia volubilis — an Ayurvedic liquid used in nutritional, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products.
"Onyeka initially sent an email offering the victim a dealership and a large order. He then directed him to purchase the liquid from a specific supplier, which was, in fact, a fake firm operated by the accused himself," said Rajput.
The complainant, unaware of the trap, purchased one litre of the liquid from the fraudulent firm. Soon after, Onyeka's accomplices met him under the guise of quality checks and convinced him to invest further.
Enticed by the promise of substantial profits, the businessman ended up transferring ₹47 lakh for additional orders. The scammers continued to manipulate him into making further payments under various pretexts, eventually defrauding him of ₹1.25 crore.
"Once the fraud came to light, we began tracking the phone number used by the accused, which led us to his location in Mumbai. He was using the same number throughout the operation," Rajput told TOI.
During the arrest, police seized four mobile phones from Onyeka. One of the devices contained a screenshot of a WhatsApp message he had sent to the victim, further confirming his involvement.
Prolonged illegal stay
Investigations revealed that Gabriel Onyeka had been living illegally in India for over a decade. He first arrived in 2012 on a medical visa for treatment in West Bengal. However, after his visa expired, he continued to stay in the country and eventually moved to Mumbai. In 2020, Mumbai police had already filed a case against him for overstaying his visa. Onyeka resides in a 2BHK apartment on the 20th floor of a residential tower in Kalyan.
