No fewer than four Automated Teller Machine card-swapping fraudsters have been nabbed by operatives of the Enugu State Police Command for allegedly defrauding a 63-year-old man of N495,000.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the suspect was apprehended on Wednesday.
The spokesperson gave the names of the suspects as Michael Sopuruchi, Osinachi Godwin, Moses Ani, and a mother of four, Chika Nwoko.
The suspects, according to the police image maker, are between the ages of 18 and 36.
They were arrested on May 6, 2023, at about 4.30 pm, by operatives serving in Hawk Tactical Squad of the State Command in collaboration with Troops of the Nigerian Air Force Enugu at Emene behind Emenite.
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“The suspects were arrested while escaping to their above-mentioned criminal hideout in Emene, Enugu, after they fraudulently stole the ATM Card and Personal Identification Number of an unsuspecting 63-year- old male victim, while pretending to assist him withdraw money from a commercial Bank ATM along Ogui Road, Enugu.
“Immediately after the switcheroo, the suspects used the card and PIN to withdraw the total of N495,000.00 from the victim ’s account.”
The PPRO said that the suspects have confessed to the crime during interrogation, saying they have carried out many other criminal acts of ATM card swapping and fraud within Enugu metropolis.
He noted that four different ATMs including that of the victim, were recovered from them.
He said the suspects were on Tuesday arraigned in court and remanded in Enugu Custodial Centre while the trial Magistrate has adjourned the case to June 7, 2023, for further hearing and ordered that the case file be transmitted to the Attorney General for legal advice, through the Director of Public Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Enugu State.”