The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Abuja has arrested 26-year-old Victor Umeakuka for allegedly hacking into bitcoin wallets to steal coins which he illegally resells.
Mr Umeakuka is said to be a graduate of Physics and Astronomy.
EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, said Umeakuka’s apartment, House 9, Mobile Michael Crescent, Gwarimpa, Abuja, was raided following a tip-off that fraudulent activities were going on in the building.
Mr Orilade said laptops of different brands, phones, modems, SIM cards and other items were recovered during the search.
He added that Umeakuka poses as Toby Campbell on WhatsApp as a bitcoin miner.
“In the course of the investigation, preliminary findings revealed that the suspect is into the bitcoin business and uses his bitcoin account to buy and sell stolen bitcoins.
“He confessed that he hacks into other people’s bitcoin wallets, transfers the contents, which he then sells to unsuspecting members of the public. He uses the name, Tony Campbell to pose as a bitcoin miner,” he said.
