Three cybercafé operators arrested for ‘defrauding’ 300 KASU students of N60m

The police in Kaduna have arrested three suspected internet fraudsters for allegedly defrauding students of the Kaduna State University (KASU).

Mansir Hassan, spokesperson of the Kaduna police command, said the three suspects defrauded students of their school fees to the tune of over N60 million.

Hassan identified the arrested suspects as Muhammad Uthman Busari of Nariya Kaduna, AbdulAzeez Hamza of Hayin Dan-mani area in Kaduna, and Noel Nims Audiya.

“The suspects, who are cybercafe operators, compromised the students’ registration portal and took undue advantage of them for the payment of their fees online,” he said.

“The suspects often collect tuition fees from the students in full, but will pay a lesser amount into the State’s Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“They go further to intercept and manipulate the electronic transaction receipts from the TSA to read complete payment.”

Hassan said the suspects have so far short-changed over 300 students of KASU to the tune of over N60 million.

He said Muhammad Uthman Busari, the principal suspect, used his share of the money in building and furnishing a house.

The police PRO said the suspect also purchased a car, electronic appliances, gadgets, and plots of land in both Kaduna and Kwara states.

Hassan said the suspects have since been charged to court for prosecution.

To curb internet-related crimes in the state, Adamu Ali, the police commissioner, has established a cybercrime unit to facilitate the investigation of such cases.

Hassan urged victims of social media hacking, fake purchase alerts, deceptive social romance, and cryptocurrency/forex frauds to forward their complaints through the newly created unit for diligent investigation.