Ogun State Police Command said to have arrested a woman, Elizabeth Thamson, for allegedly defrauding three people of N8.5m under the pretext of helping them secure Canadian work visas.

Her arrest came shortly after the command warned residents about the rising cases of online fraud, including fake dating sites, travel and visa scams, and other schemes used to swindle unsuspecting victims.

According to a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, revealed that the victims were deceived into believing that their visas had been approved.

“The victims narrated that after undergoing biometric verification as instructed by the suspect, they were informed that their visas had been approved,” the statement read.

However, when they took the supposed approval letters to the Visa Facilitation Service office in Lagos for verification, it was discovered that the documents were fake.

Odutola added, “Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime. Preliminary investigation revealed that she had been operating a fraudulent migration scheme targeting individuals desperate for employment opportunities abroad.”

The state Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has ordered a discreet investigation into the case and urged the public to be cautious.

“He cautioned members of the public, especially young people, to exercise due diligence when seeking travel opportunities, verify online information through official channels, and avoid patronizing touts or unverified agents for visa processing,” the statement added.