A team of Sitapur police arrested the suspects identified as Emanuel Anidke and Uzona Ajij, on Sunday evening, April 2, from Noida.

The accused allegedly contacted gullible targets through social media posing as US nationals who wanted to set up bases in India and were stuck at the airport for clearance of their consignments caught in customs, said the police.

The police said the accused would later seek money from individuals promising them to repay the amount in dollars and would do the disappearing act once they got the help," said Sitapur additional SP (south) NP Singh.

Police said that the two Nigerians were staying in India after their study visa had expired last year and were indulging in crime to make money.

The duo claimed to have duped 50 residents of India staying in different states of Delhi, Rajasthan, MP, Bihar and Maharashtra.