By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
The Yobe State Police Command has made a significant breakthrough in its fight against cybercrime and related offenses.
On December 6, 2024, the State Intelligent Department (SID) apprehended three suspects – Sani Kasim, 35, Nura Umaru, 24, and Umar Suleman, 22 – for their involvement in a criminal syndicate that targeted ATM users in the state.
The suspects, who confessed to their crimes, used a clever tactic to trick unsuspecting customers into revealing their PIN numbers while using ATMs.
They would offer to assist the customers, then swap their ATM cards and withdraw cash from their accounts.
The Police recovered 47 ATM cards, four cellphones, and a Mercedes Benz vehicle from the suspects while Six victims, including a visually impaired person who lost N181,550, have identified the suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Garba Ahmed, has directed detectives to intensify their investigation and pursue fleeing members of the syndicate.
He urged the public to report any suspicious activity and warned that Yobe State will not be a safe haven for criminal elements.
To avoid falling victim to ATM fraud and related crimes, the Yobe State Police Command advises the public to follow some safety tips.
Members of the public are to be aware of their surroundings when using an ATM, look around for suspicious individuals or activities and use a secure ATM by choosing an ATM located in a well-lit, secure area, such as a bank lobby or a reputable retail store.
They are also adviced to cover the keypad by using their free hand or a piece of paper to cover the keypad when entering the PIN to prevent others from seeing your PIN and keep their card secured by holding onto the card at all times, and never let someone else handle it.
They are to monitor their account regularly by checking account statements to detect any suspicious transactions, avoid using ATMs with signs of tampering, if an ATM looks like it has been tampered with, do not use it.
They are to use a debit card with chip technology as Chip-enabled cards are more secure than traditional magnetic stripe cards and keep the PIN confidential, never share the PIN with anyone, and avoid using easily guessable PINs.
The Command expressed confidence that by following these safety tips, “you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to ATM fraud and related crimes,” as contained in a statement by DSP Dungus Abdulkarim,MNIPR
Police Public Relations Officer, the Nigeria Police Force, Yobe State Command, Damaturu.
