ATM fraudsters apprehended in Adamawa

The Operatives of Adamawa State Police Command have arrested two suspected fraudsters for alleged ATM card swap fraud.

The suspects identified as Yusuf Maika, 50 years, and Abubakar Mustapha, 52 years, both residents of Jos, Plateau State, were arrested for allegedly defrauding one Yunusa Usman of the sum of N400,000 at an Access Bank ATM cubicle in the State.

The police say their arrest followed a complaint lodged by the victim and an immediate response from the Bank’s staff on Monday, September 7.

Preliminary investigation by the police revealed that the suspects specialize in targeting ATM users experiencing network or transaction difficulties. They offer unsolicited assistance to such victims, observe their PINs, and subsequently swap their ATM cards with similar cards without their knowledge. The suspects would then use a mobile POS machine to withdraw or transfer funds from the victims’ accounts.

Items recovered from the suspects include 23 ATM cards belonging to different banks, one Moniepoint POS machine used in debiting victims’ accounts  and the sum of ₦400,000, proceeds of the alleged fraud.

During interrogation, the suspects disclosed that they came to Adamawa State from Jos, Plateau State last week for the purpose of perpetrating the crime. 

The police say the suspects remain in custody and will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.