The Police Operatives serving in Hawk Tactical Squad of the Enugu State Command in collaboration with troops of the Nigerian Air Force Enugu have arrested a four-man criminal syndicate involved in Automated Teller Machine card swapping in Enugu state.
Commending the joint operatives for arresting the criminal syndicate swindling unsuspecting citizens of their resources via ATM Card swap, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ahmed Ammani, also called on bank customers, particularly the elderly and those without proper knowledge of how to use ATM of banks to exercise caution and seek the assistance of Bank staff only for transactions via ATM.
A statement signed by Enugu State Command Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, reveals, “On May 6, 2023, at about 4.30 pm, Police operatives intercepted and arrested the suspects in Emene area in Enugu.”
The suspects are Michael Sopuruchi aged 36, Osinachi Godwin aged 18, Moses Ani aged 29 and Chika Nwoko a mother of four children aged 29.
“The suspects were arrested while escaping to their hideout in Emene, Enugu, after they fraudulently stole the ATM Card and Personal Identification Number (PIN) of an unsuspecting 63-year-old male victim, while pretending to assist him to withdraw money from a commercial Bank ATM along Ogui Road, Enugu,” Ndukwe revealed.
“Immediately after the swap, the suspects used the Card and PIN to withdraw the total sum of four hundred and ninety-five thousand Naira only (N495,000.00) from the victim’s account,” the PPRO said.
On interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime revealing that their team was involved in many ATM Cards swaps and fraud within Enugu metropolis.
Four different banks’ ATM Cards, including that of the victim, were recovered from them.
The suspects have been arraigned in court where the Magistrate ordered that they be remanded in Enugu Custodial Centre; the case has been adjourned to 7th of June 2023 for further hearing.
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