Four Nigerians arrested for cheating

New Delhi, Dec 28 (UNI) The Delhi Police have arrested four Nigerians for cheating a person of Rs 15 lakh on the lure of giving him prize money won on the Internet.

Nathaniel Ezeocha, Emeribe Wisdom, Collins Okaro and Ernest Ude were arrested for defrauding one Ashok Kumar by sending messages that he had won some prizes and then fleecing him of Rs 15 lakh on the pretext that the money was needed to buy a chemical used for washing ''carbon coated dollars'' delivered to him by the accused.

While Nathaniel Ezeocha and Emeribe Wisdom were arrested on December 22, Collins Okaro and Ernest Ude were arrested today.

The accused had sent messages to the victim alleging that he had won some prize. Thereafter, on the pretext that under RBI guidelines, the amount could not be transferred to the victim's account, they delivered a box containing ''carbon coated dollars'' to the victim who was asked to pay Rs 15 lakh in several installments, in cash as well as to some ICICI bank accounts, purportedly to buy some chemicals used to wash the dollars.

However, despite paying the amount, the victim could not wash the ''coated dollars'' which on close scrutiny turned out to be pieces of black paper. He then filed a complaint on December 22.

A case has been registered against the accused under relevant Sections of the IPC. The police also filed a case against Emeribe Wisdom under the Foreigners Act for forging the expiry date on his visa.

UNI AR HS RAI2200