Police Arrest Three Suspected Fraudsters Specialising in Forging International Bank Cheques, Impersonating Foreign Celebrities

Chiemelie Ezeobi

Lagos police have arrested three individuals accused of masterminding a sophisticated fraud syndicate that forges international bank cheques and impersonates foreign celebrities.

The suspects—Innocent Odumosor (27), Ajie Samuel Chukwudi (31), and Godwin Divine (19)—were apprehended at their residence in Lagos following intelligence reports received by detectives from the Anti-Corruption Unit, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos. The reports detailed the activities of the syndicate, which also has members operating overseas.

The alleged ringleader, Innocent Odumosor, resides in a four-bedroom flat at Ocean Freeze Estate, Ologoro, Ikate, Lagos, while his second-in-command, Ajie Samuel, lives at Star Times Estate, Ago Palace Way, Lagos.

Both Odumosor and Ajie reportedly confessed to making approximately N400 million each since they began their fraudulent activities in 2021.

During interrogation, the suspects admitted to impersonating high-profile foreign celebrities and defrauding the Bank of America of millions of dollars.

Odumosor, a graduate of the University of Cross River State, explained how they operate:

“We buy ‘tools’ from Xeet.com, which we use to commit the fraud. These tools work as software that integrates with various foreign bank systems. We clone cashier’s cheques and collaborate with syndicate members overseas who source foreign accounts to deposit the funds.”

“The unsuspecting victim cashes the cheque and sends the money to an account provided by our syndicate. The victims are randomly selected and engaged in lengthy conversations before we strike. Once the funds are in the account, our members abroad take over.”

Police investigations revealed that after securing proceeds from their latest scam on 28 March 2025, the ringleader, Odumosor, purchased a Mercedes 223 GLE worth N250 million, while his second-in-command, Ajie, bought a Mercedes GLE 221 valued at N150 million. The third suspect’s share is reportedly still in his Nigerian bank account.

Odumosor further confessed:“I graduated in 2019 and started internet fraud in 2021. I learned everything online through websites like Xeet.PW and Monove.com. I specialise in loading foreign bank accounts using tools bought from websites such as Olux.TO, Monove.com, and Cheap.com. The tools cost between $10 and $100.”

“I get foreign bank accounts from other syndicate members and load money into them, mostly from banks in the United States. We share proceeds 50/50. My most recent transaction with Ajie involved $350,000 in cash cheques from the Bank of America, with the beneficiary being Babara Franks. My share was $150,000, which I converted to N230 million using my Access Bank account.”

“I used part of it to buy a Mercedes GLE worth N120 million and spent the rest on myself, my family, and my music career. I use an iPhone 16 Pro Max and a laptop to execute the fraud. I pay N10 million annually for my four-bedroom flat at Ocean Freeze Estate, Ikate.”

Ajie Samuel, also known as “Pappy”, a Mechanical Engineering graduate from Cross River University and a native of Delta State, admitted to receiving $50,000 from the scheme, stating that he acted as a middleman during negotiations.

Detectives are now working with Interpol to track down the remaining members of the syndicate operating abroad. The suspects’ international passports have been confiscated, and authorities are investigating the banks involved to determine whether there was internal collusion.

The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Adegoke Fayoade, confirmed the arrests, stating that investigations are ongoing.