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By Linda Ikeji 20 October 2026, 6:06 pm 0 comments
The Cross River State Police Command has paraded a suspected ATM card thief who steals from unsuspecting bank customers and he narrated method he employs to divert people's funds.
The suspect was paraded at Cross River State Police Headquarters today, October 20.
According to the suspect, he positions himself at ATMs across the state and approaches individuals experiencing difficulties with ATM transactions.
He then pretends to offer assistance, and when they hand over their ATM card, he withholds the card and punches in the cardless transaction option.
"I put the ATM in cardless transaction mode and I withhold your card. You'll be thinking your card is inside but your card is not inside," he said.
He said he waits until the customer punches in their password, then he memorises it and immediately leaves the premises.
He has a getaway driver, who is still at large. The driver, who waits at the location, picks him from the ATM point to another location where he carries out a transaction with the stolen ATM.
Meanwhile, the suspect is left confused upon seeing that no card comes out from the ATM machine after their transaction, yet they were debited.
By the time they go to the bank to report, the suspect would have wiped out the money in their account.
The police PRO explained that the DPO in the area has been working with bank managers in an attempt to nab him and he was finally caught on October 6.
The suspect said he started operating in April 2026 and has accessed N1.4 million belonging to his victims.
Five ATM cards belonging to different people were recovered from the suspect’s house.
Urging the public to protect themselves, the Cross River Statw Police Command PRO said: "Never disclose your ATM PIN to anyone.
"Shield the keypad whenever you enter your PIN.
"Never allow a stranger to handle your ATM card.
"Ensure your card is returned to you after every transaction.
"If your card goes missing, contact your bank immediately to block it and report the incident.
"With the Yuletide season approaching, stay vigilant! Criminals may exploit moments of distraction to target unsuspecting members of the public."
See video below.
English (US) ·