A woman, Elizabeth Thamson, is now cooling her heels in the custody of the Ogun Stater Police Command, for allegedly defrauding three people of N8.5m under the pretext of helping them secure Canadian work visas.
Thamson’s arrest came shortly after the command warned residents about the rising cases of online fraud, including fake dating sites, travel and visa scams, and other schemes used to swindle unsuspecting victims.
Spokesperson of the Ohun State Police, Command, Mr. Omolola Odutola, a Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP, revealed on Thursday, disclosed that 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 said in the statement.
However, when they took the supposed approval letters to the Visa Facilitation Service office in Lagos for verification, discovered that the documents were fake.
“Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime,” Odutola continued. “Preliminary investigation revealed that she had been operating a fraudulent migration scheme targeting individuals desperate for employment opportunities abroad.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered a detailed but discreet investigation into the case. He urged the public to be cautious.
“He cautioned members of the public, especially young people, to exercise due diligence when seeking travel opportunities, verify online information through official channels, and avoid patronising touts or unverified agents for visa processing,” the statement added.
Despite repeated warnings from the police and several victims’ experiences, many Nigerians continue to fall victim to fake travel agents.
