The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has recovered and returned the sum of 10, 540 Euros to a polish victim of Internet love scam.The victim, simply identified as Jamina, was allegedly duped 40,000 Euros by the suspect, Gabriel Oseremen Xavi who operates a fake Facebook account with the name, Collins Page. The suspect was traced to Benin City, Edo State, where he was arrested by EFCC operatives following a petition by the victim. Speaking on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 at the Belgium Embassy, Abuja during the presentation of the sum of 10,540 Euro recovered from the suspected Internet fraudster, Ibrahim Lamorde, Chairman of EFCC, charged Western diplomats to sensitize their citizens against Internet love scam. Lamorde, who also urged them to focus more on lonely elderly people who have been found to be easy prey, added that “All the assets acquired by the suspect from the proceeds of the crime will be disposed off at the conclusion of trail, and the money returned to the victim.”

The high point of the occasion was the presentation of the money to the Belgian Ambassador, Mr. Stephane De Loecker and his Polish counterpart, Mr. Andrzej Dycha, by Lamorde. Expressing his gratitude, De Loecker, thanked the Nigerian government as well as the EFCC for what he described as ‘its commitment to curbing Internet scams.’’ He remarked that it was his first time of witnessing the restitution of a victim of scam by any law enforcement agency and urged the EFCC not to rest on her oars. The envoy assured that the Belgian government would carry out rigorous campaigns to sensitize its citizens on the dangers of love scam. In his remarks, Dycha, who also expressed his gratitude, extended invitation to the EFCC to be part of the meeting of association of EU Consuls to further “advise and sensitize them on Internet scam.” The presentation was witnessed by the Deputy Head of Mission, Belgian Consulate, Veronique Bernad; Polish Consul, Jakub Budohoski, and EFCC officials.