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. Security operatives trail suspects

Bank customers in Enugu, Enugu State, are grappling with new wave of fraud targeting Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card users many of whom have lost huge amounts of money.

Although scammers perpetrating the frauds use sophisticated methods to fleece their victims, resident say the fraudsters specialise in ATM card swapping.

According to them, some of the suspects stand at safe distance around the banking premises while looking out for unsuspecting customers to prey on.

A resident of Ogui New Layout, who identified himself as Mr. Tai Agbo said he became a victim to one of the scammers who he invited for assistance after Agbo started having difficulties while trying to withdraw money.

According to Agbo, he did not know that the suspect had swapped his ATM card and tampered with Agbo’s PIN that enabled the scammer to empty all the money in his victim’s account.

Another victim, Mrs. Cecelia Asogwa suffered a fate similar with Agbo’s ordeal.

According to her, a young man noticed she was having problem while operating a bank’s ATM machine in Okpara Avenue area.

Not suspecting foul play, she obliged the scammer and next thing she saw just few hours after getting home was that entire money in her account had been withdrawn.

Confirming these reports, yesterday, Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, Daniel Ndukwe said police have launched manhunt for those behind the new wave of scam.

According to Ndukwe, police operatives serving in Hawk Tactical Squad together with troops of NAF have arrested a four-member syndicate.

Ndukwe said the suspects were arrested around Emene area.

“This, they did, while pretending to assist 63-year-old man withdraw money from a commercial Bank ATM along Ogui Road, Enugu. Immediately after switching the ATM card, the suspects used the card and PIN to withdraw the total sum of N495,000 from the victim’s account. The suspects confessed to the crime, stating that they have carried out many other criminal acts of ATM cards swapping and fraud within Enugu metropolis. Four different bank ATM cards, including that of the victim, were recovered from them,” he said.