Thirty-One Arrests Made in UK-Nigerian Romance Fraud Investigation, Seizing £3,000 and Rolex Watches
A joint operation targeting organised romance fraud networks operating across the UK and Nigeria has resulted in 31 arrests in Europe and Africa. The initiative, codenamed Operation Seraphim, saw financial investigators from the City of London Police, in collaboration with the Cyber Defence Alliance (CDA), the National Crime Agency, and the Nigerian Police Force’s cybercrime team, dismantle illicit operations.
During one recent raid in the Midlands, officers detained a man suspected of selling personal banking information and facilitating money laundering. £3,000 in cash and two Rolex watches were seized from his property, underscoring the material gains driving these criminal enterprises.
Many of the individuals apprehended are believed to be involved in romance fraud, a pervasive scam where perpetrators cultivate emotional relationships with targets, sometimes over months, before coercing them into transferring significant sums of money. Kirsty Guest, a florist from North Yorkshire, recounted losing over £80,000 after falling victim to a fraudster who posed as “Patrick” on a dating application. She described the meticulous grooming process, where the scammer built trust before fabricating an emergency abroad to solicit funds.
Craig Rice, head of the CDA, emphasised the severe impact on victims, stating, “They’re ruining lives and creating misery.” The CDA, funded by 11 major banks, proactively identifies organised fraud networks through pattern analysis of bank data and monitoring social media platforms where criminals openly discuss their methods and offer illicit services, such as creating fake banking websites and selling account details.
Detective Inspector Joel Gregory of the City of London Police’s Intelligence Development Team highlighted the necessity of collaborative efforts. He noted that the scale and intricacy of online fraud necessitate joint action between law enforcement and the banking sector to disrupt these sophisticated operations, sending a clear message to those involved that their activities are being monitored and pursued.
