- The arrests followed a well-coordinated operation based on credible intelligence
The Kaduna State Police Command has dismantled a syndicate involved in Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card swap fraud, recovering 54 ATM cards from various banks and a Point of Sale (POS) machine.
In a statement released on Friday, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, revealed that the suspects, identified as Umar Yau, Abdullahi Bukar, and Hussaini Sulaiman, were apprehended on August 27, 2024, around 11:00 PM. The arrests followed a well-coordinated operation based on credible intelligence.
The suspects were reportedly known for loitering around ATM machines, where they pretended to assist users unfamiliar with the machines, only to deceitfully swap the victims’ ATM cards and carry out unauthorized withdrawals.
Kaduna Police Commissioner Audu Dabigi, as quoted in the statement, urged the public to remain vigilant while using ATMs, warning against accepting unsolicited help and encouraging immediate reporting of any suspicious behavior to the police.
The arrest and recovery of the ATM cards and POS machine mark a significant success in the ongoing fight against fraud and cybercrime in the state. The suspects have confessed to defrauding multiple victims across Kano, Kaduna, and Zaria.
Commissioner Dabigi assured the public of the Command’s commitment to community safety and bringing fraudsters to justice. He advised residents to exercise caution when using ATM facilities and to report any suspicious activities promptly.