Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested a 35-year-old woman, Blessing Daberechi Oleru, for allegedly swapping an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) debit card and fraudulently withdrawing N523,600 from a victim’s account in Port Harcourt.
According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, the arrest followed a complaint lodged by the victim at the Olu-Obasanjo Police Station on November 26, 2024.
The police revealed that the incident occurred at an ATM in the Bank Garrison area, where the victim encountered a malfunction while attempting to withdraw cash. Oleru, pretending to assist, allegedly swapped the victim’s card without their knowledge.
Shortly after leaving the ATM, the victim began receiving debit alerts totaling over N500,000.
A coordinated intelligence operation led to Oleru’s arrest on February 5, 2025. During interrogation, she reportedly confessed to the crime, and a Moniepoint Point of Sale (POS) machine was recovered from her possession.
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, confirmed that investigations are ongoing to track down other members of the fraud syndicate.
“This arrest demonstrates the Rivers State Police Command’s commitment to combating financial crimes and protecting citizens’ interests at all times,” the statement added.
