A 35-year-old woman, Blessing Oleru, has been arrested by operatives of the Rivers State Police Command for allegedly defrauding a bank customer through an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card swap scam in Port Harcourt.
The Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Tuesday, revealing that the suspect’s scheme led to unauthorized withdrawals totaling ₦523,600.
According to police reports, the incident occurred on November 26, 2024, when the victim (name withheld) attempted to withdraw cash from an ATM along the Garrison axis of Port Harcourt.
However, the machine malfunctioned, creating an opportunity for Oleru, who was lurking nearby under the pretense of conducting a transaction.
Under the guise of assisting the victim, Oleru allegedly swapped the debit card without detection.
The unsuspecting victim left the ATM, only to later receive multiple debit alerts amounting to over half a million naira.
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Acting on the victim’s report filed at the Olu-Obasanjo Police Station, detectives launched an investigation, leading to Oleru’s arrest on February 5, 2025.
During interrogation, she reportedly confessed to the crime, and a Moniepoint PoS machine was recovered from her.
The police further disclosed that efforts are underway to apprehend other members of the suspected fraud syndicate.
“This arrest underscores the Rivers State Police Command’s dedication to tackling financial crimes and safeguarding the interests of residents,” the statement concluded.