Nigerian, Zimbabwean Arrested in India Over N13.1m Fraud Against Retired Officer

Authorities in India have apprehended a Nigerian and a Zimbabwean national following allegations that they defrauded a 63-year-old retired Central Government officer of Rs 13.10 lakh (approximately N13.1 million). The arrests were made by the cyber crime police on Sunday, July 13, 2026, acting on directives from Police Commissioner Pankaj Nain.

The Zimbabwean suspect, identified as Tapuwa, was in India on a student visa, while the Nigerian, Kenneth, held a medical visa. The duo is accused of employing deceptive tactics, including creating fake WhatsApp profiles of women from the UK. They allegedly enticed the victim into investing in a fictitious pharmaceutical enterprise, promising lucrative returns of three times his initial investment.

Both suspects have been presented before a court and subsequently remanded into police custody for five days as investigations continue.

The case originated from a complaint lodged by the retired officer from Panchkula on the National Cyber Crime Portal on February 20. He reported that in December 2025, he established contact with a woman on Facebook who claimed to reside in the UK. This woman then introduced him to another individual, purportedly her relative. The retired officer was persuaded to commit funds to a pharmaceutical business, with assurances that the company would handle product procurement and sales, guaranteeing substantial profits.

Between December 2025 and February 2026, the complainant transferred a total of Rs 13.10 lakh into various bank accounts. However, he never received any products or the promised profits. A technical investigation by the police led a team to Bahadurgarh, where they successfully apprehended Tapuwa and Kenneth. The accused handed over the mobile phones and SIM cards reportedly utilized in perpetrating the cyber fraud.