Police in Rivers State have apprehended a 35-year-old woman, Blessing Oleru, for allegedly swapping a bank customer’s ATM card and fraudulently withdrawing ₦523,600 from his account.
The arrest followed a complaint lodged by the victim, prompting an investigation by security operatives. According to police spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko, the incident took place on November 26, 2024, at an ATM point along the Garrison area of Port Harcourt.
Reports indicate that the victim was trying to withdraw money when the machine malfunctioned. Oleru, who was nearby pretending to conduct her own transaction, offered to assist but instead switched the card. Unaware of the deception, the victim left, only to later receive debit alerts amounting to ₦523,600.
Realizing the fraud, the victim reported the matter at the Olu-Obasanjo Police Station. Following an intelligence-led operation, police operatives tracked down and arrested Oleru on February 5, 2025.
“During questioning, she admitted to the crime, and a Moniepoint PoS machine was recovered from her,” the police statement revealed.
Authorities have assured that investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to identify and arrest other individuals linked to the scheme.