Yaounde: Police parades suspected cybercriminals, notorious taxi robbers.

It was the Commissioner of Yaounde Central Police Station No.1, Police Commissioner Thierry Medou, who presented the suspects to the public.

The suspects were presented to newsmen at the esplanade of the Yaounde Central Police Station No1, a press briefing. 

The suspected cybercriminals were identified as 22-year-old Manga Bingono Blaise and 23-year-old Obelle Dylan.

The suspected gang of robbers, is led by 24-year-old Biaback a Tabou Moustapha with members identified as 25-year-old Awono Charles, 34-year-old Moundimeyet Megtna Aziz and 37-year-old Mbale Eric.

Notorious cybercriminals disguised as women  

According to the Police Commissioner, the suspected cybercriminals were apprehended following an investigation that exposed their involvement in using the image of Police Superintendent Fouda Isabelle to extort unsuspecting users on Facebook.

Commissioner Medou revealed that their scheme involved two fraudulent profiles, one impersonating as Commissioner Fouda Isabelle, and the other as a certain Virginie Alice, but still using Fouda's image.

According to the official, the suspects, with the help of sophisticated software that mimicked a woman’s voice, further convinced victims of the legitimacy of the fake profiles. 

This, he revealed, led many to fall victim to various swindles, including fraudulent offers to facilitate the production of National Identity Cards and access to police recruitment exams.

“The victims were often lured by promises of solving their Identity Card issues or securing admission into the police force in exchange for relatively small sums of money,” Commissioner Medou said.

Caught in the act

According to Commissioner Medou, the suspected group of robbers specialised in robbery attacks on board taxis operated in Yaounde from March to October.

He revealed that they are said to have preyed on unsuspecting and vulnerable passengers.

“They would pick up individuals in the taxi and then rob them of their belongings, using weapons such as daggers,” the police official revealed.

Despite their criminal activities, the gang managed to evade the forces of law and order for months until a recent attack on a passenger whose name was disclosed as Ndongfack Dongmo Fatndogungo. He was attacked earlier in October this year.

During the said incident, the official revealed that Ndongfack was attacked and left in a remote, dark area near the road at the Hippodrome neighborhood.

“Luckily, a passing motorcycle rider rescued him and helped him follow the taxi. They encountered a patrol from Central Police Station No. 1, that immediately set out to track the criminals,” Medou revealed further. 

The senior police official further said as the gang continued their criminal spree, they picked up another passenger, Ndong Syriac, and also robbed him of his phone. 

However, the police were already in pursuit, and after the gang ejected Syriac from the vehicle, officers intercepted the taxi and arrested all four members of the gang. 

Authorities recovered daggers, phones, and personal items belonging to the victims. During interrogation, it was revealed that the gang had been involved in numerous attacks on Yaounde residents for several months. 

While only a few victims were located, the police believe many more were targeted between March and October.

Call for cooperation, vigilance 

Speaking during the press briefing, Police Commissioner Medou called for increased vigilance among internet users, particularly when approached with offers related to Identity Card production or other official documents. 

It was emphasised that the issuance of National Identity Cards is not conducted online and that citizens should only trust official channels for such services. 

He said passport applications, however, are processed through an official online platform, the link to which is widely known.

“When dealing with such profiles and offers, there is a 99% chance of encountering criminal activities. Cybercriminals continue to evolve their methods of deception,” warned the official.

“The first level of security must be applied by the passengers themselves. Always check for elements like registration plate number, and the light of the car at night. Any suspicious or doubtful actions must be reported at once,” the official concluded.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue No:3256 of Friday October 11, 2024