The Rivers State Police Command has successfully arrested two suspects, Michael Onyedikachi and Akachukwu Benedict, for their involvement in an elaborate online scam that targeted Sandra Austin, a Nigeria-born woman residing in Ontario, Canada. Over a two-year period, the suspects convinced Sandra to transfer N110m to them under false pretenses.
The scam began in February 2022 when Sandra received a friend request on Facebook from an individual posing as “Engineer Desmond Chibuike Okechukwu.” After initial hesitation, Sandra accepted the request, and their conversations led the suspect to promise to assist her in property construction in Nigeria. The scam intensified when the suspect moved their chats to WhatsApp and shared fabricated photos of luxury homes in Nigeria.
Sandra, trusting the scammer’s claims, eventually expressed interest in one of the homes, which was listed at N150m. Between 2022 and 2024, she transferred N110m, including a final N30m payment, only to be blocked from further communication. The stress caused by the scam led to a serious health issue for Sandra, who was hospitalized due to a spike in her blood pressure.
Determined to seek justice, Sandra reached out to her family in Nigeria, and a petition was filed with the Rivers State Commissioner of Police. The case was handed over to the C4i Intelligence Unit for a thorough investigation.
Despite attempts by the suspects to intimidate Sandra into silence, the police used intelligence-led methods to apprehend the fraudsters. Michael Onyedikachi, a 29-year-old from Enugu State, was arrested in August 2024, followed by the capture of his accomplice, 29-year-old Akachukwu Benedict, two days later. Both suspects admitted to their roles in the scam and revealed they had used cloned SIM cards and cryptocurrency wallets to avoid detection.
The investigation continues, and authorities are working to identify additional accomplices in the scheme. The suspects will face charges in court once the investigation is completed. The police emphasized the importance of their swift response to prevent further fraud and bring justice to victims.
