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Nigeria Deports Over 100 Foreign Nationals Convicted in Crypto Romance Scam Crackdown

In one of its largest cybercrime crackdowns to date, Nigeria has deported more than 100 foreign nationals convicted of participating in elaborate online fraud schemes disguised as cryptocurrency investments.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) announced on Thursday that 60 Chinese nationals and 39 Filipinos had been expelled after being convicted of “cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.” Two Kazakh citizens were also deported.

According to EFCC spokesman Dele Oyewale, the latest group follows an earlier wave of deportations between August 15 and 18, which included 39 Filipinos, 10 Chinese, and two Kazakhs. More deportations are scheduled in the coming days.

The Romance Scam Playbook

The EFCC said the deported individuals were part of highly coordinated networks that targeted victims through online romance ploys. Fraudsters, posing as love interests, lured unsuspecting people into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms.

Once victims deposited funds, the scammers manipulated fake dashboards to show high returns, urging them to invest more. Ultimately, the “profits” vanished along with the fraudsters, leaving victims with devastating losses.

“These syndicates prey on emotional vulnerability to drive financial exploitation,” Oyewale explained.

Victims were primarily from North America and Europe, with many investing not only their savings but also borrowed funds and business capital, leaving them financially ruined.

Mass Arrest in Lagos

The deportees were among 792 suspects arrested in December 2024 during a massive EFCC raid in Victoria Island, Lagos, an affluent neighborhood known for attracting foreign businesses. At least 192 of those arrested were foreign nationals, including 148 Chinese citizens, the EFCC disclosed.

Photographs released by the agency showed groups of Asian men, masked and escorted under heavy security, lined up at airport counters ahead of their deportation.

Nigeria’s Cybercrime Dilemma

Nigeria has long battled the global stigma of being a hub for online fraudsters, locally dubbed “Yahoo Boys”. Traditionally, these schemes involved phishing emails and advance-fee fraud. But authorities say the rise of cryptocurrency has made scams more sophisticated and difficult to trace.

According to investigators, foreign cybercrime syndicates have embedded themselves in Nigeria, exploiting weak cybersecurity frameworks and collaborating with local accomplices who help scout victims online.

“These operations are not just Nigerian anymore; they are multinational, coordinated, and technologically advanced,” an EFCC official said.

Wider Security and Economic Implications

Experts warn that the presence of foreign cybercrime syndicates in Nigeria not only damages the country’s international reputation but also undermines its efforts to attract foreign investors to its booming fintech sector.

Victims of the scams—many of them retirees, small business owners, and ordinary professionals—often lose life savings. Analysts say the fraudsters exploit gaps in global financial regulation, moving illicit funds quickly across borders through crypto exchanges and offshore accounts.

Ongoing Crackdown

The EFCC says its intensified crackdown is part of a broader push to protect Nigeria’s financial system from exploitation. The agency has vowed to strengthen collaboration with Interpol, the FBI, Europol, and Asian law enforcement agencies to dismantle cross-border cybercrime syndicates.

Meanwhile, deportations are expected to continue as trials conclude for other foreign suspects arrested in the December operation.

For Nigeria, the move marks not only a law enforcement victory but also a signal to international partners that the country is committed to cleaning up its image as a safe haven for internet fraud.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna