Police operatives have arrested three suspects allegedly behind the proliferation of fake websites for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) registration, and the falsification of fake admission letters.

This was according to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, shared via X on Thursday, June 13.

The Nigeria Police Force and JAMB had cautioned against the activities of perpetrators using fake websites to scam candidates applying for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

This was as the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) and JAMB announced their partnership to clamp down on phishing websites and scammers.

The police and JAMB, during a joint press conference held at the Force Headquarters, Louis Edet House, Abuja noted that the fake sites were designed to deceive unsuspecting candidates into providing personal details such as registration numbers, email addresses, and phone numbers. These details are then exploited for malicious purposes.

However, Adejobi, in a statement titled “Police Unveil Threat Actors Behind Falsification of Thousands of Fake JAMB Admission Letters, Arrests 3, Recovers 4 Fake Domain, Website”, stated that the culprits behind the heinous acts had been apprehended.

According to him, the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, has reiterated NPF’s dedication to guaranteeing the safety, and security of citizens both physically and in cyberspace.

The statement read, “Following the previous press briefing by the Nigeria Police Force and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board where the general public was assured of the resolve of the duo in putting all hands on deck to ensure the suspects behind the proliferation of various fake websites for JAMB registration, and the falsification of fake JAMB admission letters, and decimate the menace of forgery, system interference and schemes operating phishing websites to defraud unsuspecting JAMB candidates, the NPF-NCCC has arrested three suspects in connection with the case of Conspiracy, Computer Related Forgery and System Interference contrary to sections 8, 13 and 27 of the Cybercrimes Act, 2015 as amended.

“The suspects, namely Effa Leonard Mpama, Ibang Ernest Jerome and Eshiet Odotukana Benson, all male of ages 34, 38 and 38 respectively and others at large, belong to a syndicate who intentionally and knowingly conspired and procured amongst themselves services that enabled them to illegally access JAMB restricted Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) and e-facility respectively, and proceeded to alter and delete other candidates’ previous admission letters and inputted fake details resulting in inauthentic admission letter which were acted upon as genuine to secure admissions into tertiary institutions and mobilization for National Youth Service Corps programme, thus compromising the entire JAMB admission process with its attendant consequences.

“Upon arrest the suspects revealed their various degrees of involvement in the conspiracy, corroborating the already available overwhelming evidence. The duo of Effa Leonard Mpama and Ibang Ernest Jerome and others at large collect personal details of the prospective candidates and forward same to Mr. Eshiet Odotukana Benson who gets CAPS links from Daniel and Chris; Messrs Daniel and Chris still at large are working in the JAMB Computer Based Test Centers domiciled in FAN and UNICAL respectively in Calabar, Cross River State.”

He added that forensic analysis was critical in the discovery of an Imo Stated-based syndicate behind the creation of fake domains and other associated websites.

“In more developments, digital Forensic analysis led to the recovery of 4 fake domains, websites and 2 principal threat actors of a syndicate in Imọ State behind the creation of the fake domains and other associated websites operated by them. Similarly, the third suspect, Mr Eshiet, who has access to the CAPS links unlike the duo above, proceeds to any CBT centre and opens the jamb e-facility with a login detail of a candidate with previous admission and thereafter superimposes the new details collected to create a fake admission letter”, the statement added.

While warning against all sorts of criminal partnerships that promote illegal activities of this nature and others engaging in similar activities, Egbetokun commended the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Center, led by CP Uche Henry for his team’s commitment to leveraging emerging technological advancements to protect the citizens of Nigeria both physically and in digital space.

He disclosed that the suspects would be charged to court immediately after the investigations were concluded.