The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a suspect linked to a car sales scam in Abuja that left a buyer out by thousands of dollars. Police also recovered $7,000 from the suspect, believed to be proceeds of the fraudulent deal.

According to a statement on Wednesday by ASP Halima Mohammed, spokesperson for Zone 7 Headquarters in Abuja, the case came to light after a woman filed a petition to the Assistant Inspector General of Police on June 19.

The complainant explained that she had come across a Facebook advertisement on June 10 for a Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, priced at N32 million (about $20,000), listed for sale at Ilado Car Stand in Lokogoma, Abuja.

Eager to seal the deal, she inspected the vehicle and was told its only problem was with the power steering — a minor issue, she was assured, that would be fixed within a week. Trusting this promise, she paid a deposit of $7,000 on the agreement that her money would be refunded if she decided not to proceed.

But when she returned with a certified Mercedes-Benz mechanic for a closer look, they uncovered extensive electrical and mechanical faults far beyond the initial claim. Alarmed, she asked for her deposit back.

That’s when things took a shady turn. The suspect refused to refund the money, insisting instead that it would only be returned after the car was sold to another buyer. Worse still, he provided no timeline for when that might happen, raising red flags that prompted her to seek police help.

Acting quickly on the complaint, police detectives led by CSP Akinlabi Ogundile invited the suspect for questioning. During interrogation, he confessed, and officers successfully recovered the $7,000.

ASP Mohammed added that the police are still on the trail of another suspect believed to be an accomplice in the scam.

The arrest underscores the importance of verifying transactions thoroughly and dealing with reputable sellers, especially when it comes to high-value purchases like cars. The police have urged the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious activities.