The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Nigerian national arrested on charges of cheating

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Nigerian national arrested on charges of cheating

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The city police have arrested yet another Nigerian national on charges of cheating and overstaying.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Gopal B. Hosur told The Hindu on Monday that the Nigerian, Vincent Eze Godwin of Omila Abiba, had sent an email to Maua Shefeeq of Bangalore that he had won $10 million in a lottery and he had to pay $3,550 to claim the prize money.

Suspecting something fishy, Shefeeq approached the police. After Shefeeq informed Godwin that he would pay the money only in Bangalore, he arrived here from Mumbai on Sunday.

On his arrival, the police arrested Godwin at the Bangalore airport.

After examining his travel documents, the police found that his visa had expired and he was overstaying, Mr. Hosur said.

A case had been registered against him under the Foreigners Act and the Indian Penal Code.

Many held

Over the years, the Bangalore police have arrested several Nigerian nationals who had attempted to cheat the unsuspecting people here by playing several tricks on them.

In October 2005, the Kadugondanahalli police arrested two Nigerians for allegedly cheating a city-based software engineer.

In January 2005, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) staff arrested three Nigerians on the charges of cheating industrialists and businessman. John, William and Tote met several industrialists and businessman in the city claiming that they were interested in investing here because of political problems in Nigeria.

Promises

As proof of their financial capability they would draw out a bundle of blank notes and convert them into US dollars after pouring some chemical on it.

As a payment against these notes, they asked the businessmen to give them a few lakhs of rupees.

At other times, the accused would promise to send money to investors via U.S. Diplomat Courier, a safe and secure system for money transactions, the police said.

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