A Toronto resident defrauded of over $355,000 in cryptocurrency has received partial restitution of $225,000, thanks to a cross-border partnership between the Toronto Police Service and Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The incident dates back to mid-2021 when the victim began interacting with an individual identified as “Moshe Theodor McNigh” on Facebook.
The suspect allegedly gained the victim’s confidence and persuaded them to invest in cryptocurrency via a platform called Legacyfxtraders.online.
By the end of 2021, Nigerian authorities confirmed the scam, launching an investigation into the matter.
The recovery process involved multiple agencies, including Toronto Police’s Coordinated Cyber Centre (C3), the 51 Division Fraud Unit, and the Financial Crimes Asset Forfeiture Unit.
These teams worked closely with the Ontario Provincial Police Anti-Rackets Branch, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and Nigerian law enforcement.
In 2024, the EFCC arrested a Nigerian national, Omonkhoa Precious Afure, who was implicated in the fraud. The Nigerian courts subsequently declared the seized proceeds as assets belonging to the victim and ordered their return.
Romance and investment scams are increasing worldwide. According to the CAFC, victims in Canada reported losses exceeding $52.5 million to romance scams and $309 million to investment fraud in 2023 alone. However, authorities estimate that only a fraction of these crimes are reported.
Tools for Reporting Fraud
To tackle such schemes, authorities encourage victims to report incidents promptly. In Nigeria, individuals can use the EFCC’s Eagle Eye reporting application, which enables global reporting of cyber-enabled fraud. In Canada, victims can contact the CAFC or local police for assistance.
For those who suspect fraudulent activity, immediate reporting is important to enhance the effectiveness of investigations and hold perpetrators accountable.
