Kano police arrest suspected fraudsters who specialize in buying goods with fake bank alerts; recover 22 POS machines and 52 ATM cards

The Kano State Police Command has arrested three suspected fraudsters who specialize in generating fake bank alerts to buy goods and recovered 22 POS machines, 52 ATM cards, 8 Jerrycans of diesel, and 6 mobile phones.

Spokesperson of the command, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who disclosed this in a statement at the weekend said the State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel urged all law-abiding residents of the state, especially business operators to be wary of fraudsters and promptly report any suspicious activities to the nearest Police Formation or through the Command’s emergency contact numbers. 

The PPRO noted that this achievement was as a result of the commitment of the police command towards keeping the state safe as the police received series of reports from a particular petrol stations and adjoining business premises on the activities of fraudsters who specialize in buying goods and initiating fake alerts including swapping of ATM cards and Point of Sales (POS) machines. 

“On this, teams of detectives were placed on red alert to ensure the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators by the Kano State Commissioner of Police,  CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel,” the statement read.

“Consequently, on 05/06/2024 at about 2045hrs while the detectives swiftly responded to a distress call from the Manager of Chula Filling Station and promptly arrested the following suspected fraudsters; (1) Abdulkadir Ibrahim, aged 38 years old, ‘m’, of Naibawa Quarters and (2) Aliyu Tukur, aged 27 years old, ‘m’, of Kuntau Quarters, Kano. 

“During investigation, the suspects bought Diesel that costs three hundred thousand naira (N300,000:00) at Chula Filling Station along Hotoro, Ring Road Kano but made fraudulent payments through which the owners received fake money transfers alert. 

“While in police custody, the suspects further led the team and arrested one Auwal Ibrahim, aged 20 years old, ‘m’, of Naibawa Quarters who was the final receiver of the Diesel.

“During the investigation, all the suspects confessed to the crime and also revealed that, they had earlier defrauded some fuel attendants at AY Maikifi, Aliko, and many other Filling Stations including many other business operators in Kano State. 

“Exhibits recovered from them include twenty-two (22) POS Machines, fifty-two (52) ATM Cards, six (6) Mobile Phones and eight Jerricans of Diesel. 

“The suspects are currently undergoing discreet investigation at the Command’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and will thereafter be charged to court for prosecution.

“Therefore, the Commissioner of Police is reassuring the commitment of the police command to fighting crime and criminality and dealing ruthlessly with perpetrators of criminal activities in the State

“While thanking the good people of the State for their support and cooperation, the CP also urged the public especially business operators to be extra wary of fraudsters and keep reporting any suspicious movement of person(s) or item(s) they come across to the nearest Police Station or through the following Kano State Police Command emergency contact numbers:- 08032419754, 08123821575, 09029292926.”