The Kano State Police Command has arrested a suspected social media fraudster, Musa Lurwanu Maje.
Musa specializes in using male and female names, pictures to create social media accounts which he used to defraud his victims, especially randy lovers.
Spokesman State Police command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, in a statement on Sunday, June 19, said the suspect confessed to deceiving people into sending him their nude pictures and videos which he uses to blackmail them.
“Between April to June 2022, there was a public outcry on the activities of a notorious fraudster on various Social Media platforms that specialized in using male and female names, pictures, and videos, creating various accounts on Facebook, WhatsApp, etc., and defrauding many people, especially randy lovers,” the statement read.
One Zahra Mansur, ‘f’, 20 years old also complained that she received phone calls from her close associates that someone uses her name, pictures, and videos, creating Facebook accounts, and defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.
“On receipt of these reports, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko, raised and instructed a team of detectives led by SP Shehu Dahiru to arrest the culprit.
The team immediately swung into action using technical support.
“Sustained efforts and intelligence-led follow-up, led to the arrest of the suspect, one Musa Lurwanu Maje, ‘m’, popularly known on the Social Media as Musa L Maje, 26 years old, of Sitti Village, Sumaila LGA, Kano State.
“The suspect was arrested in possession of a Redmi Note 11 Pro mobile phone valued at Two Hundred Thousand Naira (N200,000:00) and other accessories bought from the proceeds of fraud.
The sum of Seventy Thousand Naira was also recovered from his possession.
Nude pictures and videos of victims were also recovered from him
“On investigation, the suspect confessed that he specialized in the use of Social Media and creates fake Social Media accounts to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
“He claimed to have created a fake Facebook account bearing ‘’Zahra Mansur‘’ and uses her pictures and videos to defraud people without her consent.
“ He also confessed to having deceived many people and got their nude pictures and videos, and threatened to blackmail them if they refuse to send money to him,”
The State Commissioner of Police, CP Sama’ila Shu’aibu Dikko has directed for discreet investigation after which the suspect will be charged to Court for prosecution.
