Friday, 29 April 2016
Nigerian man charged to court for alleged involvement in online scam in South Africa
A Nigerian man was charged before a court in Cape Town on Monday, April
25 for his involvement in an online scam in which victims were falsely
told that they had won a Chevrolet Spark.
Ikechukwu Chigbufue, 33, his address given in the charge sheet as Gordon Sands in Gordon’s Bay, appeared in the in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Bellville before magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg.
Ikechukwu Chigbufue, 33, his address given in the charge sheet as Gordon Sands in Gordon’s Bay, appeared in the in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Bellville before magistrate Sabrina Sonnenberg.
Police arrested Chigbufue in December 2015 after a tip-off that he was
on his way out from his rented apartment and has been in custody ever
since. During Monday’s
proceedings, prosecutor Juan Agulhas said negotiations for the plea and
sentence agreement were "still on the table", and the State hoped to
finalise the process one way or the other by May 12.
Defence attorney Keith Gess said he also needed Chigbufue’s
instructions about the “road ahead”, in the event of the negotiations
collapsing.
The charge sheet alleges that Chigbufue belonged to a syndicate that
falsely informed victims by SMS or WhatsApp Messenger that they had won a
Chevrolet Promo Award, and that the prize was a Chevrolet Spark.
Victims were required to provide their names and surnames, residential
addresses and codes, as well as their ID numbers and mobile telephone
numbers. Once their winnings were "confirmed", the victims had to
activate reference numbers and pay additional expenses such as
registration fees, taxes, customs duties and courier services.
The victims were instructed to to pay ostensible expenses such as
emergencies, and administrative costs, into bank accounts provided by
the syndicate, to ensure the delivery of the vehicles.
According to IOL News, as part of the scam, Chigbufue and other members
of the syndicate created fake online personalities that gave victims a
false sense of security. The online personalities were portrayed as
wealthy individuals who were able to repay monies advanced by victims.
The State alleges that Chigbufue used fake online profiles, including
photographs and personal information, in order to bolster the veil of
reliability and trust.
It is alleged that victims were targeted and befriended, on online dating sites such as Badoo.
Chigbufue faces 32 charges – 23 of fraud relating to the Chevrolet Spark
scam, seven pertaining to the online dating leg of the scam, one that
alleges a conspiracy to commit fraud, and a final count involving the
Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca).
Magistrate Sonnenberg adjourned the case to May 12, 2016.
Photo: Pres. Buhari receives British High Commissioner to Nigeria
President Buhari pictured receiving British High
Commissioner to Nigeria - Paul Arkwright, at the State House, Abuja
today April 29th.
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Cute photos of Kanu Nwankwo and his wife, Amara
Amara on her part, captioned the second photo thus: "They used to hide from you, lie to you. But y'all know we were made for each other. So I find you and hold you down"
First Bank set to sack 1000 of its workers
Monday, 25 April 2016
Buhari congratulates Nigerian/British boxing champion Anthony Joshua Oluwafemi
President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigerian/British boxer Anthony Joshua Oluwafemi for winning the IBF Heavyweight championship. The president in his congratulatory message asked Nigerians to support the young man as he defends his heavyweight title.
Mr. President's statement came through his SSA on Diaspora and Foreign Relations, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Joshua, ranked the world’s sixth best heavyweight boxer, will be defending his title by June 25, 2016.
Bola Tinubu's Son Set to Wed His Beautiful Fiancee [See Their Pre-Wedding Photos]
Mother of VP Osinbajo Visits President Buhari and His Wife
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