The operatives of the Anambra State Police command have arrested a syndicate who specialises in defrauding innocent traders using fake bank payment alerts.
According to a statement by the command’s spokesman, Mr. Haruna Mohammed, following intelligence report at about 6.20pm on 1st August, 2019, Police operatives attached to the Command Monitoring unit (CMU) arrested Eko Charles, aged 25, who was believed to be the main suspect and Rabiu Idris, aged 24, believed to be the receiver, both of Gariki, Ugwuoba, Enugu State.
The statement explained that the suspects who specialised in defrauding innocent traders by generating fake bank payment alerts went to the shop belonging to one Godwin Chukwu of No. 59 Zik Avenue, Awka on the 31st July, 2019 to buy televisions, fraudulently generated and sent fake SMS alert for the payment of two hundred thousand naira (N200, 000) to the victim’s phone and he released two 43 inch television sets oblivious of their fraudulent trick.
“Consequently, on the 1/8/2019 at about 1pm, suspects did the same thing and collected 4 televisions and other accessories, all valued at N230, 000.
“Complainant went to the bank to withdraw the money but was told by the bank that no payment was made into his account.
“Meanwhile, as luck would have it, same syndicate placed an order for 95 inch TV, a deep freezer, Sumec Fireman generator with a promise to send an alert but Police detectives laid siege around the shop premises and arrested the main suspect, Eko Charles who came to collect the items.
“However, four 32 inches television sets earlier collected under false pretense from the complainant were recovered from Rabiu Idris. Case under investigation after which suspects would be charged to court for prosecution”, the statement said.
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