A 35-year-old online vendor, Modupeola Bamisade, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly defrauding over 100 persons of more than N500 million in a sophisticated gadget scam.
The suspect, who specialised in advertising iPhones, iPads and other Apple products on social media platforms, reportedly lured victims with bogus 50 per cent discount offers before collecting payments without delivering the promised items.
Investigation revealed that Bamisade enlisted the services of social media influencers to promote her phantom sales, thereby attracting unsuspecting buyers who parted with substantial sums in anticipation of receiving the gadgets.
A police source familiar with the matter disclosed on Wednesday that the suspect perfected the art of giving endless excuses to avoid fulfilling orders after collecting payment from her victims.
“We have in custody a 35-year-old lady who operates as an online vendor, claiming to sell iPhones, iPads and other Apple products. She typically engages influencers to advertise massive discount sales of about 50 per cent,” the source stated.
“She has been running this scheme for quite some time and succeeded in duping over 100 innocent citizens of upwards of N500 million. Under interrogation, she confessed to deploying influencers to expand her reach and trap victims,” the officer added.
Another source within the command revealed that her arrest followed a report lodged by one of the influencers who became suspicious after receiving multiple complaints from aggrieved customers.
“One of the influencers she engaged reported her activities to the police, leading to her apprehension,” the source disclosed.
The source further stated that several victims had visited the command headquarters to identify the suspect upon learning of her detention.
According to the officer, one victim narrated how she paid one million naira for an iPhone, only for Bamisade to embark on a string of fabricated delays.
“The victim said after payment, the suspect claimed the phone had arrived and would be delivered shortly. She kept spinning different tales. At some point, someone even called the victim, posing as a dispatch rider, but no delivery was ever made,” the source explained.
At press time, the police had yet to issue an official statement on the arrest or indicate when the suspect would be arraigned.