The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a suspect, Emwanta Smith, over an alleged $550,000 cyber fraud targeting an American woman.

The suspect was apprehended on March 26 in Benin City, Edo State, by operatives working through the INTERPOL National Central Bureau Abuja, following a four-day intelligence-led operation.

Force Public Relations Officer, Anthony Okon, disclosed in a statement issued in Abuja that the operation was initiated after a formal complaint by the victim and conducted between March 23 and 26.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the suspect allegedly impersonated high-ranking government officials and other prominent individuals to gain the victim’s trust before convincing her to transfer funds through cryptocurrency channels between October 2025 and January 2026.

According to the police, proceeds of the alleged fraud were traced to the purchase of five vehicles and an uncompleted building in Benin City, both of which have been secured as exhibits.

Officers also recovered counterfeit cash valued at $10,000 from the suspect at the time of arrest.

The police said investigations are ongoing, reiterating their commitment to combating cybercrime, particularly schemes that exploit cross-border anonymity and digital financial platforms.

Authorities noted that the case reflects a broader pattern of scams targeting foreign victims, including previous incidents involving romance fraud and online extortion linked to suspects operating within and outside Nigeria.

Edo State has been identified as a recurring location in several high-profile cyber fraud cases, with law enforcement agencies continuing efforts to trace and recover proceeds of such crimes.