The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ondo has nabbed three suspected internet fraudsters specialising in defrauding owners of Point of Sales (POS) in the state.

The trio, Bolofinde Ojo Odunayo, 23, Bolofinde Durotifa, 39, Ibrahim Saheed, 21, and Idowu Oluwaseun, 20, were nabbed by the NSCDC’s Counter Terrorism Unit during the weekend at the Ifedore and Owo LGAs of Ondo.

Daniel Aidamenbor, the spokesman for the Corps in Ondo, who disclosed the arrest of the suspects, in a statement, alleged that the trio are members of a syndicate who are in criminal habits of defrauding POS agents in the state.

Mr Aidamenbor explained how one of the suspects, Mr Saheed, defrauded an Opay agent using the POS to allegedly transfer fraudulent funds.

According to him, the offence contravenes section 419 of the Constitution, saying one of the suspects, Mr Oluwaseun is currently at large.

He added that it was also a criminal conversion, obtaining under false pretence as defined under sections 410 and 411(i) of the Criminal Code of the Federation and punishable under sections 417(g), 390(a), 382(i) & (ii)(a) of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State.

“On 31st of May, 2023, Ibrahim Saheed came to Mr Oguntomiloye Taiwo’s Point of Sales stand and withdrew Eleven Thousand Naira using an Opay account of one Durojaiye Odunayo Joseph to make payment to the POS agent.

“Days later, the POS agent’s account was blocked by Opay, an online Banking provider, because the money transferred to his account was fraudulent.

“From investigation, it was discovered that the syndicate withdrew money from unsuspecting POS agents, thereafter visiting their banks to complain of wrongful debt of which the banks will refund them and lien the account of the POS agent,” he said.

While stressing that one of the suspects, Mr Durotifa, had allegedly made a useful confession of their involvement in the online fraud, Mr Aidamenbor said the “suspects would have their day in the court of law” after completion of investigation.