Facebook Impostor Arrested for Defrauding Over 40 Victims
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old suspected cybercriminal, Umar Yau, popularly known as “Snake,” for allegedly defrauding over 40 unsuspecting victims through fake online business deals and identity theft schemes.
The suspect, a resident of Yelwan Makaranta area of Bauchi, was apprehended following a detailed investigation initiated by a petition from one of his victims, Mrs. Fatimah Faiz Ali Bawahab, an online businesswoman whose identity was cloned and used to perpetrate multiple frauds.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Ahmed Mohammed Wakil, the suspect’s arrest followed a complaint filed by Mrs. Bawahab after several people alerted her that a Facebook account bearing her name and photographs was being used to defraud innocent victims.
The fraudster, using the fake Facebook profile “Amizeebaby Muhd,” allegedly solicited payments for fictitious online businesses, directing victims to make transfers to various accounts linked to him.
One of the early victims, identified as Nafiu Muhd, was lured into transferring money to a First Bank account registered as Hansatu Yau. After making the payment, Mr. Muhd was blocked by the suspect, raising further suspicion that multiple accounts and identities were being used to facilitate the fraudulent activities.
Investigations revealed that other accounts linked to the suspect included PalmPay and Momo Payment Service Bank accounts under the names Hansatu Yau and Umar Yau.
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As the scam continued into early 2023, several victims contacted Mrs. Bawahab directly, confirming they had been defrauded by someone impersonating her online. In an effort to unmask the fraudster, Mrs. Bawahab engaged the impersonator, who insisted on receiving payments through the already-identified fraudulent bank accounts.
Upon receiving the petition, the Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, tasked the CP Monitoring Unit to carry out a discreet, technology-driven investigation. The operation led to the arrest of Umar Yau on June 5, 2025, at approximately 9:00 p.m.
During the arrest, police recovered several incriminating items from the suspect, including nine ATM cards from different banks, a completed FCMB account opening form fraudulently filled using his sister’s details, multiple national ID and voter’s cards bearing his information, newly acquired SIM cards, a 4G MiFi device, and a smartphone box.
While in custody, the suspect reportedly confessed to operating the fraudulent scheme since 2019, admitting that he expanded his operations to cryptocurrency scams, defrauding around 40 victims in the process.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has reiterated the Command’s commitment to tackling cybercrime and warned the public against engaging in fraudulent activities, stressing that offenders will face the full weight of the law.
Following preliminary investigations, the Bauchi State Police Command has transferred the case to the Kano State Police Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.
By PRNigeria
