A Nigerian national, Uzoma Eleazar, has been arrested for attempting to sell seeds for the cure of AIDS in an online scam by the Local Crime Branch, LCB, Thane Rural in India.
According to the Hindu reports, Eleazar was nabbed on Sunday alongside three accomplices for cheating a local resident at Naya Nagar, Mira Road, one Anil Mathur of nearly Rs. 23 lakh in an online scam.
It was reported that they met on the social media and developed a friendship, after which, Eleazar offered Mathur a dealership in seeds that he claimed he used to produce expensive medicines in Nigeria
The victim fell for it and had paid nearly Rs. 23 lakh since June 21 before his arrest.
Assistant Police Inspector, API Prafull Wagh said, “The Nigerian offered a dealership for special seeds that grow only in Nigeria, which he claimed can cure AIDS.
“Eleazar managed to sell seeds in 400-gram packets for Rs. 1 lakh each.
“The seeds turned out to be ‘Bitter Kola’ (botanical name: Garcinia kola), which grows in abundance in Western and Central Africa and sold for Rs. 1,000 per kg in Nigeria.
“We have arrested Eleazar and his Indian agents, Taufiq Hussain, 47, a resident of Panvel, Fazal Ahmed Syed, 28, and Yogesh Kumar Patil, 31, from Navi Mumbai.
“More arrests are likely as the accused have conned several people in Maharashtra and other states through an online scam.
“All accused have been remanded in police custody till July 27 by a Thane court. We have appealed to the victims to come forward and register complaints against the accused.
“We have also seized around 10 mobile handsets using which the accused called Mr. Mathur from different numbers, three laptops, Rs 4.20 lakh in cash and packets containing the seeds,” the Inspector stated. – The News.
