The operation was done in collaboration with troops of the Nigerian Air Force in Enugu.
The police in Enugu, southeast Nigeria say they arrested four fraudsters who specialised in swapping Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards of bank customers to defraud them.
The suspects, three males and one female between the ages of 18 and 36 were arrested on May 6, 2023, at about 4.30 pm, by operatives serving in Hawk Tactical Squad of the State Command.
The operation was done in collaboration with troops of the Nigerian Air Force in Enugu.
A statement by the Command's spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, gave the names of the suspects as one Michael Sopuruchi, Osinachi Godwin, Moses Ani and one female and a mother of four, Chika Nwoko.
"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 (PIN) 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 sum of four hundred and ninety-five thousand Naira (N495,000.00) from the victim’s account."
The PPRO said the suspects had confessed to the crime during interrogation, adding that they had carried out many other criminal acts of ATM card-swapping and fraud within the Enugu metropolis.
He noted that four different banks' ATM cards, including that of the victim, were recovered from them.
"Consequently, the suspects were on Tuesday, 23/05/2023, arraigned in court, where the Magistrate ordered that they should be remanded in Enugu Custodial Centre, while the case is adjourned to 07/06/2023 for further hearing and the case file transmitted to the Attorney General for legal advice, through the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Ministry of Justice, Enugu State."
According to the statement, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani had commended the Joint Operatives for busting and bringing the criminal syndicate to book.
He however, 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 Banks’ staff while using their Cards on the Machine.