Fraud

A South Africa-based Nigerian, James Aliyu has been arrested by the International Criminal Police Organization, popularly known as Interpol, over an alleged $12 million fraud. He was nabbed in his luxury Sandton estate on Wednesday, June 29, in connection with almost R196m in alleged romance scamming and business email compromise fraud, TimesLive reports.

The suspect who appeared in the Randburg magistrate’s court shortly after his arrest is well known in SA social circles and on Instagram thanks to his lavish holidays and excessive spending on luxury items for him and his girlfriend.

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According to law enforcement sources, after an almost six-year-long investigation into the alleged scammer’s activities, he has been arrested thanks to a multi-agency investigation that included Interpol, the US department of homeland security investigations, and the US Secret Service.

Some sources claimed Aliyu has allegedly been in contact with several major convicted and suspected fraudsters from around the world and that he is considered a major player. Among the fleet of luxury vehicles, he allegedly bought with the proceeds of fraud were a Porsche Cayenne, a Mercedes C220d, and a Mercedes-Benz G Class luxury SUV.

His social media profiles also depict him on luxury island resorts and luxury holidays in Dubai and the US.

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