Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) executed a landmark operation targeting a massive crypto-romance fraud hub in Lagos, arresting 792 individuals in a coordinated raid at the seven-story Big Leaf Building. The operation, conducted on December 10, targeted a sophisticated international scam network primarily focusing on victims from North America and Europe. Among those arrested were 148 Chinese, 40 Filipino nationals, and other foreign participants, highlighting the global nature of this criminal enterprise. The luxury building, which appeared to be a corporate headquarters, was actually a sophisticated call center designed to execute elaborate online scams.

The fraudsters employed intricate strategies to lure victims, utilizing popular social media and messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Instagram to establish fake romantic relationships and present enticing cryptocurrency investment opportunities. EFCC spokesperson Wilson Uwujaren revealed that Nigerian operatives were recruited by foreign crime syndicates to identify and initially engage potential victims from the United States, Canada, Mexico, and various European countries. The scammers would first build trust with victims through romantic manipulation or seemingly lucrative investment propositions, then transfer communication to foreign counterparts who would execute the actual fraud.

During the comprehensive raid, EFCC agents seized critical evidence including mobile phones, computers, and vehicles, demonstrating the sophisticated infrastructure of the criminal operation. The scam methodology, often referred to as "pig butchering," involved gradually building trust with victims before pressuring them to transfer money for fake cryptocurrency schemes and non-existent investment projects. Uwujaren emphasized that the Nigerian accomplices were tasked with prospecting and initial victim engagement, while foreign kingpins would ultimately take over the final stages of the fraudulent transactions.

The EFCC's operation represents a significant breakthrough in combating international cybercrime, with the agency collaborating closely with international partners to trace potential organized crime network links. The raid exposed a complex transnational fraud ecosystem that exploited digital platforms to manipulate victims emotionally and financially. By targeting this centralized hub, authorities have disrupted a significant criminal network that had been systematically defrauding individuals across multiple continents. The large-scale arrest underscores the growing challenge of digital fraud and the increasing sophistication of international cybercrime syndicates operating across borders.