Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have apprehended a 35-year-old woman, Blessing Oleru, for allegedly orchestrating an ATM debit card swap fraud that led to the unauthorized withdrawal of over ₦500,000 from a victim’s account in Port Harcourt.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, Oleru’s arrest was the result of swift police action following a complaint lodged by the victim, who prefers to remain anonymous.
Detailing the incident, Iringe-Koko stated, “The victim, who wishes to remain anonymous, reported the incident on November 26, 2024, at the Olu-Obasanjo Police Station after the suspect swapped his ATM card at a bank along the Garrison axis in Port Harcourt. According to the report, the victim attempted to withdraw cash from an ATM, but the machine malfunctioned.
“Oleru, who was standing nearby pretending to carry out a transaction, offered assistance but instead swapped the victim’s debit card. The victim left the ATM without realising what had happened but soon began receiving debit alerts totalling ₦523,600.00.
“Following a coordinated intelligence operation, police operatives arrested Oleru on February 5, 2025. During interrogation, she confessed to the crime, and a Moniepoint Point of Sale (PoS) machine was recovered from her possession.”
Iringe-Koko further disclosed that investigations are ongoing to track down other members of the syndicate linked to the fraudulent scheme.
“This arrest demonstrates the Rivers State Police Command’s commitment to combating financial crimes and protecting citizens’ interests at all times,” she added.
The command has urged residents to remain vigilant while using ATMs and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
