A suspected Automated Teller Machine (ATM) fraudster identified as one Obinna Okafor residing at Cater Street Ogui Layout in Enugu town, Enugu State has been arrested by the operatives of the New Haven Division of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Enugu state Command.
The suspect had at least 12 different ATM cards suspected to have been stolen from victims at the time of his arrest, the police said.
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Ebere Amaraizu, who confirmed the arrest in a statement issued in Enugu on Friday, said Okafor was picked by the operatives on duty at an old generation bank’s ATM point at Ebeano Housing Estate Branch following the alarm raised by a female victim concerning an alleged “fraudulent and smart exchange of her ATM card with a fake one and also having knowledge of her ATM PIN NUMBER by the suspect.”
It was gathered that the suspect had encountered the victim purportedly to render help when she reportedly had some difficulties as she attempted to withdraw money through the Automated Teller Machine.
Amaraizu said that after Okafor allegedly exchanged the ATM card with his fake one and also knowing the victim’s PIN Number, he escaped before the victim raised an alarm which attracted security agents on duty at the bank, who arrested him immediately.
According to the PPRO, the suspect who was apprehended on October 8, “is now helping the operatives in their investigations into his alleged nefarious activities concerning the fraudulent exchange of ATM cards of several people.
The police spokesman said that 12 ATM cards of different banks were recovered from Okafor.
Amaraizu advised members of the public to be security conscious and avoid anything that will make them disclose their ATM Pin code to strangers.