The Anambra State Police Command has launched an investigation into a viral video that shows a lady allegedly defrauding a 58-year-old handicapped woman at an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in Nnewi. The disturbing incident has raised concerns over the safety of vulnerable individuals using ATMs in public places.
According to a statement released today, December 19, by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, the suspect, who is yet to be identified, pretended to assist the elderly woman at the ATM. While offering help, she swapped the victim's ATM card and left the scene unnoticed. Shortly after, the victim began receiving multiple debit alerts, totaling ₦2,000,000, which were withdrawn in parts from her account.
The Anambra State Police have urged residents of Nnewi and surrounding areas to come forward with any useful information that could assist in identifying the suspect. They have also asked the public to report any suspicious activity around ATM locations to help prevent further fraudulent activities.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Nnaghe Obono Itam, expressed his deep concern over the incident, calling it a troubling act of exploitation targeting a vulnerable individual. He directed the Public Relations Officer to work closely with the victim to gather additional details about the suspect’s identity and actions. Additionally, he has ordered the deployment of advanced intelligence-gathering tools to assist in locating the suspect and any potential accomplices involved in this crime.
The police assured the public that they are committed to apprehending the individual responsible for the crime and are dedicated to bringing the criminal network behind the act to justice. In light of this, residents are being advised to exercise caution and vigilance during ATM transactions. The police reminded the public to ensure they are not distracted and to be aware of their surroundings when using ATMs, in order to avoid falling victim to similar scams in the future.
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#WATCH!!!! Anambra police investigates viral video of lady who allegedly swapped the ATM card of elderly woman and withdrew N2m.– – – – – – – – – – – – –
The Anambra State Police Command says it has begun an investigation into the trending video showing an unidentified lady in… pic.twitter.com/VWLsS7zpOD
— Authentic voice (@Authenticvoice6) December 19, 2024
