A 35-year-old lady, Blessing Oleru, who resides on OMPADEC Road, Igwuruta Town, Rivers State, has been apprehended by the state police operative for allegedly swapping debit cards.
The police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, in a document shared on Tuesday to journalists, stated that the state command achieved this following a coordinated intelligence operation.
Iringe-Koko recalled that the victim, who pleaded to be anonymous, reported to have received debit alerts of the sum of ₦523,600.00 after encountering Oleru at a Bank Garrison axis in Port Harcourt, who had swapped his debit card after pretending to offer assistance.
Meanwhile, unknowingly to the victim, his debit card had been swapped by the debit card swapping syndicate.
According to the police spokesperson, Iringe-Koko said before the incident, the victim attempted to withdraw money from an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), but the machine malfunctioned.
“The victim attempted to withdraw cash from an Automated Teller Machine (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,” Iringe-Koko noted.
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Immediately after the victim received alerts, he laid complaints to the Olu-Obasanjo Police Station on 26 November 2024.
On 5 February 2025, the 35-year-old lady was arrested.
She, however, confessed to having perpetrated the crime, and also a Moniepoint POS machine was recovered from her.
To this end, Iringe-Koko noted that more investigation is ongoing with the aim to arrest other syndicates.
“This arrest demonstrates the Rivers State Police Command’s commitment to combating financial crimes and protecting citizens’ interests at all times,” the police spokesperson added.
