The Yobe State Police Command has effectively taken down a criminal organization that was scamming ATM users throughout the state.
Sani Kasim, 35, Nura Umaru, 24, and Umar Suleman, 22, were the three suspects who State Intelligence Department investigators arrested on Friday.
Under the guise of offering assistance, the suspects, who admitted to their involvement, tricked ATM users into disclosing their PINs.
They would then take money out of the victims’ accounts and covertly switch their ATM cards.
In a statement released on Saturday, DSP Dungus Abdulkarim, the State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrests and described how the suspects had recovered a Mercedes-Benz vehicles, four cell phones, and 47 ATM cards.
Six victims have identified the culprits, one of whom is a visually handicapped person who lost N181,550.
In reaction to the operation, Garba Ahmed, the Commissioner of Police for Yobe State, has directed investigators to keep trying to capture more of the syndicate’s fugitive members.
He reminded citizens that the state has a zero-tolerance attitude for illegal activity and asked them to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity.
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To protect the public, the police released a number of safety guidelines for ATM users to help them from becoming victims of similar scams:
Keep Your Eyes Open: When using an ATM, stay vigilant and keep an eye out for anyone acting strangely nearby.
Pick Safe Locations: Use ATMs in places that are well-lit and safe, like within banks or well-known businesses.
Cover Your PIN: When entering your PIN, shield the keypad with your hand or a piece of paper to keep others from seeing it.
Keep your card in your possession at all times and never allow anyone else to handle it.
By taking these easy steps, consumers can drastically lower their chance of being victims of ATM fraud.
