A 28-year-old man from Oredo Local Government Area in Edo State has renounced his involvement in internet fraud.
The former cybercriminal explained that his decision to abandon the illicit lifestyle was driven by a growing fear of being apprehended by authorities.
In a statement released on Friday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed that the individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, voluntarily turned himself in at the commission’s Benin Zonal Office. He was received by the Acting Zonal Director, Assistant Commander Effam Okim.
According to the statement, which was signed by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the man expressed his desire for change, stating, “I reported myself because I wanted to stop and turn a new leaf.”
The individual revealed that before his confession, he had been involved in romance scams, primarily targeting foreigners. He would pose as a Chinese medical doctor stationed in a conflict zone, using messaging applications with translation features to communicate in Chinese.
He confessed to manipulating his victims by building emotional connections, often using compliments and false declarations of love to deceive them.
“I tell my victims that I am from China and that I work as a medical doctor in a war-torn country. I communicate with them in Chinese using a mobile app translator. I profess love for them by telling them how beautiful and attractive they are,” he admitted.
