The gang’s patterns of operation involved one of them calling their would-be victim with the impression that he was an old-time friend, now based abroad. He would claim that he has a gift to be sent through someone who is allegedly coming home for an event. The victim would then be handed over to the ‘home-bound’ member. He would be the one to make all sorts of requests ostensibly to clear some obstacles to delivering the 'gift' from the foreign-based ‘relation’ or ‘friend’.

The professor only realised that he had been scammed after he managed to reach his friends on the phone, who denied sending anyone to him.

The suspects who are only part of the gang as the rest are still at learge have owned up to the allegation and are now helping the EFCC in their investigation