Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Kwara State have arrested a 34-year-old man accused of posing as a soldier and using fake bank alerts to defraud unsuspecting victims.
The suspect, identified as Akinola Tosin, was arrested after a Point-of-Sale (PoS) operator reported being tricked into releasing cash based on a fraudulent transfer notification.
According to the NSCDC, Tosin allegedly obtained ₦40,600 from the victim after presenting a fake debit alert as proof of payment.
Confirming the arrest, the command’s spokesperson, Ayoola Michael, said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect used the fake transaction notification to deceive the PoS operator into believing the payment had been successfully completed.
“The suspect collected ₦40,600 after presenting a fake debit alert to the POS operator, deceiving the victim into believing a successful transfer had been made,” Michael said.
Further investigations uncovered an even more disturbing development, as authorities discovered the suspect had allegedly been posing as a member of the Nigerian Army to gain public trust and facilitate his activities.
“The suspect had been impersonating a member of the Nigerian Army using a fake military identity card and other military-related items,” the NSCDC spokesperson added.
During the operation, officers recovered eight ATM cards and a National Identity Card from the suspect.
Investigators also said Tosin allegedly confessed to carrying out similar fraudulent acts against other victims.
The NSCDC disclosed that investigations led to the identification of a suspected accomplice, Feranmi Idoko Godwin, who is currently on the run.
“Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and conclude investigations,” Michael stated.
Reacting to the arrest, the Kwara State Commandant of NSCDC, Abbas Mohammed, urged members of the public to remain vigilant and avoid relying solely on transaction alerts before releasing cash or goods.
“I urge members of the public to verify electronic transactions before releasing cash, goods or other valuables,” he said.
The command also advised PoS operators, traders and business owners to always confirm payments through official banking channels, warning that fraudsters are increasingly exploiting fake transfer alerts to target victims.
Source: NSCDC Kwara State Command
