Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested a 35-year-old woman, Modupeola Bamisade, for allegedly defrauding more than 100 unsuspecting victims of over N500m through an online gadget scam.
The suspect allegedly specialised in the online sale of iPhones, iPads, and other Apple products, which she advertised at heavily discounted prices to attract customers. According to police sources, Bamisade offered up to 50 per cent discounts on gadgets, a strategy believed to have been used to lure buyers seeking affordable luxury devices.
A police source disclosed that the suspect relied on social media influencers to promote her supposed sales, thereby gaining the trust of potential customers. Many of the victims reportedly made full payments for the gadgets but never received their orders.
“She is an online vendor who claims to sell iPhones, iPads, and other Apple products. She goes online with the help of influencers to advertise massive sales,” the source said. “She allegedly duped over 100 individuals to the tune of more than N500m. During interrogation, she admitted to using influencers to reach her victims.”
Investigations revealed that after receiving payments, the suspect would delay delivery by giving several excuses or completely avoid fulfilling the orders. In some cases, victims were reportedly contacted by individuals posing as delivery riders, only for no delivery to take place.
Another police source revealed that the arrest followed a report by one of the influencers who became suspicious after receiving repeated complaints from customers. The influencer reportedly alerted the police, leading to the suspect’s arrest.
Following her arrest, several victims visited the police command to identify her. One of the victims alleged that she paid N1m for a phone and was repeatedly assured of delivery that never happened.
The Lagos State Police Command has advised members of the public to be cautious of unusually cheap online offers and to verify the authenticity of vendors before making payments, as online fraud continues to rise.
Leave a comment