Eight suspects are currently cooling their heels in the custody of the Rivers State Police Command for operating a Ponzi scheme known as fake QNET business.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Tunji Disu disclosed this on Tuesday while parading the suspects at the command.
Disu revealed that the group was discovered after officers from the Octopus strike force responded to a distress call from concerned residents, who suspected a hostage situation.
According to him, one Chukwudi Okoli was apprehended during the operation. Okoli, the police boss said, had been posing as an employee of Ojoseansel International Global Limited.
He also disclosed that the fake company operated from a compound in Igwuruta, Ikwerre LGA of the state.
Sixteen (16) victims held by the gang, he added, were successfully rescued during the raid of the syndicate’s hideout.
“During the operation, one Amiye Joseph and 15 other victims, comprising 13 males and two females, were rescued and taken to the station,” he said.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that each of the victims had paid between N650,000 and N850,000 to the fraudulent company.
“The company had falsely promised the victims jobs in the oil and gas industry, with salaries purportedly paid in US dollars.
“The fraudsters operated by randomly selecting phone numbers and contacting potential victims, introducing them to fake job opportunities. They would then invite the victims to Port Harcourt for bogus interviews.”
Continuing, CP Disu revealed that police investigations showed that after extorting the victims of their money, they were detained in a facility where they were closely monitored.
Also, the company also made their victims to attend training sessions in its hideout.
He added that the victims were then taught how to deceive their friends into believing in fraudulent job offers that offer $450 per week as salary.
Mobile cell phones, laptops, television sets, generators, industrial fans, and office furniture were the items recovered from the company’s hideout.
