23YEAR OLD MAN ARRESTED FOR ATM FRAUD IN CALABAR.

The Cross River Police Command on Thursday announced the arrest of a young man who specialises in ATM fraud in the state.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Titilayo Busari, stated this when he addressed journalists on the arrest of a suspect, Ondavey Weize (23), with 60 ATM cards and N258, 000 cash.

Busari said his command has rolled out measures to stop criminals from depriving people of their money and valuables in Cross River.
He said that Weize was arrested in Calabar over the weekend while trying to swap his card with that of another person at the premises of a new generation bank on Calabar Road.
``Weize was arrested by the police for allegedly swapping Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards of several people with invalid cards.

`` He used those cards in withdrawing large sums of money from the accounts of the victims.

``We have worked out modalities to ensure that people across the state enjoy not only the Christmas Festival but also freedom to carry on with their normal and lawful businesses.

``My men and I are ready to ensure that any criminal who rears his head in the state is nabbed,’’ he said.

He warned the people to be careful in asking for assistance while making withdrawals through ATM.
He advised them to always ask bank staff to assist them or come with trusted people from their homes to avoid falling into the wrong hands.
He called on residents of the state to provide the police with useful information.
He said the state police command would be more effective in its operations with the cooperation of residents of Cross River.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspect was arrested with N258,000 cash in his possession.

The suspect,who was paraded by the police had earlier told newsmen that he came into Calabar from Abuja two weeks ago.
He also confessed of having so far succeeded in swapping the ATM cards of several people to withdraw from their accounts.
The suspect, who was caught with 60 ATM cards in his possession, said he spends the money lavishly in hotels and night clubs.

``What I do is that I monitor people when they are making withdrawals through ATM.
``I go close to them and pretend to help them. When I notice the persons pin number I immediately memorise it.

``After a while, the person is counting his money, I swap his ATM card with an invalid one and later use it to make withdrawals from his account,” the suspect said.

He said he has used the method to withdraw several millions of Naira from people’s account.