Hushpuppi
defrauded
1,926,400 persons,
made N168bn –
Dubai police
Ramon Abass (Hushpuppi)
The Dubai Police Force, UnitedThe Dubai Police Force, United
Arab Emirates, has revealedArab Emirates, has revealed
how it arrested Nigerianhow it arrested Nigerian
Instagram celebrity, RamonInstagram celebrity, Ramon
Abass, aka Hushpuppi.Abass, aka Hushpuppi.
In a video released on itsIn a video released on its
official Twitter handle onofficial Twitter handle on
Thursday, the police said aThursday, the police said a
special team had been trackingspecial team had been tracking
the suspect and his gang’sthe suspect and his gang’s
activities on the social mediaactivities on the social media
for about four months.for about four months.
The DPF revealed that uponThe DPF revealed that upon
the arrest of Hushpuppi and 12the arrest of Hushpuppi and 12
other members of his crew,other members of his crew,
including Olalekan Ponle, akaincluding Olalekan Ponle, aka
Woodberry, they discoveredWoodberry, they discovered
that fraud amounting to 1.6that fraud amounting to 1.6
billion dirham (N168bn) hadbillion dirham (N168bn) had
been perpetrated by thebeen perpetrated by the
gang.gang.
No fewer than 1,926,400No fewer than 1,926,400
persons from different partspersons from different parts
of the world were also said toof the world were also said to
have fallen victim to thehave fallen victim to the
suspects.suspects.
According to the police, 13According to the police, 13
luxury cars, estimated at 35luxury cars, estimated at 35
million dirham (N3.7bn) weremillion dirham (N3.7bn) were
recovered from the house,recovered from the house,
where the suspects werewhere the suspects were
arrested.arrested.
The Dubai police said the raid,The Dubai police said the raid,
carried out on June 10, 2020,carried out on June 10, 2020,
was dubbed: Fox Hunt 2.was dubbed: Fox Hunt 2.
While footage of the operationWhile footage of the operation
played, a narrator said, “In lessplayed, a narrator said, “In less
than just four months, thethan just four months, the
Dubai Police Force was able toDubai Police Force was able to
solve the new operationsolve the new operation
dubbed: Fox Hunt 2, where 12dubbed: Fox Hunt 2, where 12
other gang members were alsoother gang members were also
arrested.arrested.
“Six raids were carried out“Six raids were carried out
simultaneously, while thesimultaneously, while the
suspects were sleeping in theirsuspects were sleeping in their
Dubai residences. After monthsDubai residences. After months
of investigating and hours ofof investigating and hours of
monitoring the gang’s socialmonitoring the gang’s social
media accounts, a team ofmedia accounts, a team of
highly-trained Dubai policehighly-trained Dubai police
officers were able to confirmofficers were able to confirm
the gang’s whereabouts andthe gang’s whereabouts and
fraudulent activities.fraudulent activities.
“The Nigerian Instagram“The Nigerian Instagram
celebrity, who was arrested oncelebrity, who was arrested on
multiple fraud charges formultiple fraud charges for
crimes committed in differentcrimes committed in different
parts of the world, boastedparts of the world, boasted
about his wealth andabout his wealth and
expensive possession on socialexpensive possession on social
media, claiming he is amedia, claiming he is a
successful businessman.successful businessman.
“Little did Abass (Hushpuppi)“Little did Abass (Hushpuppi)
know that the Dubai E-policeknow that the Dubai E-police
were tracking his every movewere tracking his every move
and taking note of all his socialand taking note of all his social
media activities.”media activities.”
On how the suspects operated,On how the suspects operated,
the police said Hushpuppi andthe police said Hushpuppi and
his team usually created fakehis team usually created fake
pages for existing websitespages for existing websites
and redirected victims’and redirected victims’
payments to their ownpayments to their own
accounts.accounts.
The Dubai police also said theyThe Dubai police also said they
discovered that the gangdiscovered that the gang
specialised in hackingspecialised in hacking
corporate emails and sendingcorporate emails and sending
fake messages to clients infake messages to clients in
order to redirect financialorder to redirect financial
transfers and bank details totransfers and bank details to
their own accounts.their own accounts.
“Before their arrest, Abass“Before their arrest, Abass
(Hushpuppi) and his crew(Hushpuppi) and his crew
members were responsible formembers were responsible for
scams amounting to 1.6 billionscams amounting to 1.6 billion
dirham. The police officersdirham. The police officers
were also able to seize itemswere also able to seize items
worth 150 million dirham afterworth 150 million dirham after
they claimed 21 computers, 47they claimed 21 computers, 47
smartphones, 15 storagesmartphones, 15 storage
devices and five hard disksdevices and five hard disks
containing data.containing data.
“Additionally, 13 luxury cars“Additionally, 13 luxury cars
worth 25 million dirham wereworth 25 million dirham were
bought by Hushpuppi and hisbought by Hushpuppi and his
gang using the money stolengang using the money stolen
from people who had beenfrom people who had been
scammed.”scammed.”
