Nigerian Police Apprehend Fraudster Behind Dangote Cement Price Slash Scam

In a significant breakthrough, the Lagos State Police Command has successfully apprehended the mastermind behind the elaborate fake price slash scheme targeting Dangote Cement customers. Benjamin Ezeukwe, aged 28, was arrested on October 19, 2023, at the Rumuolumeni area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

The arrest, confirmed in a statement by the Lagos State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, followed weeks of thorough investigation by officers from “Area A” police command in Lagos. The police discovered numerous incriminating items in Ezeukwe’s possession at the time of his arrest, including a Tecno phone, an iPhone, three SIM cards—among them the one (08039691980) used for the scam—and a Toyota Avalon identified as proceeds of his fraudulent activities.

Ezeukwe, it was revealed, had orchestrated a deceptive online advertisement in September 2023, purportedly on behalf of Dangote Cement, falsely claiming a massive price reduction. The scam resulted in numerous unsuspecting customers falling victim, losing substantial amounts of money to the fraudster.

The Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Group, Mr Anthony Chiejina, emphasized that the company had promptly informed law enforcement agencies to identify and expose the perpetrators of this deceitful information. Despite reports of a sales promo circulating in October, Dangote Cement clarified that there had been no reduction in the price of its products.

Ezeukwe has since been arraigned, and the police investigation has uncovered his involvement in several similar scams. Dangote Cement’s management issued a caution to its customers, urging them to remain vigilant against scammers seeking to exploit their funds. Mr Chiejina appealed for continued patronage of the high-quality cement brand while emphasizing the importance of staying wary of fraudulent activities in the market.

This successful arrest marks a crucial step in curbing fraudulent schemes targeting unsuspecting consumers, bringing justice to those affected by such deceptive practices.