In a major breakthrough against international cyber fraud, a Nigerian national, Gabriel Onyeka, 41, has been arrested by Indian authorities for allegedly orchestrating an online scam that defrauded a businessman of Rs1.25 crore.
The arrest took place at Onyeka’s residence in Kalyan, Maharashtra, where he had been operating under a false identity. According to investigators, Onyeka posed as a senior executive from a reputed pharmaceutical firm and lured the businessman with a fake proposal to supply Plukenetia volubilis, an Ayurvedic liquid claimed to be used in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry.
To build credibility, Onyeka offered the victim a dealership opportunity and promised large-scale procurement. He then directed the businessman to purchase a “sample” from a designated supplier — who was later discovered to be a fake entity also controlled by Onyeka.
After the initial transaction, the victim was further deceived by supposed “quality control agents,” who encouraged additional payments, citing high potential profits and successful product validation.
The cyber unit suspects that Onyeka is part of a larger, well-coordinated network of online fraudsters targeting Indian citizens through elaborate online cons. The case is currently under investigation, with more arrests likely as the police trace digital footprints and financial trails.
