Operatives of the Edo State Security Corps (ESSC) have arrested a man identified as Joshua Oko for alleged involvement in a string of fake bank transfer scams.
DAILY POST reports that the suspect’s main targets were traders across parts of Benin City.
Oko was reported to have operated in the Ibiwe, Upper Mission Extension, and Ikpoba Hill areas of the Benin metropolis.
He was alleged to have visited shops, made purchases without negotiating prices, and presented falsified bank credit alerts before disappearing with the goods.
He was also alleged to have relied on a doctored banking application on his mobile phone to generate fake transfer notifications containing the sellers’ account details and the purported amounts paid.
The suspect, who allegedly visited a shop along Upper Mission Extension, was reported to have purchased two bags of rice valued at N150,000 using the same fraudulent method.
One of the victims, simply identified as Iyore, recounted how the suspect won her confidence before allegedly executing the scam.
Iyore, a trader, narrated that “the suspect appeared calm and convincing.”
She said the suspect requested bags of rice suitable for jollof rice preparation, adding that he would pay via bank transfer after the items were presented.
According to her, “He later showed me what appeared to be a successful transfer notification on his phone, but the funds never reflected in my account balance.”
She explained that when she complained about the non-receipt of the credit alert, the suspect blamed network delays and promptly left the shop with the goods.
Iyore further added that the same suspect allegedly carried out a similar operation at another shop around Ikpoba Hill, where goods were also obtained through fake payment alerts.
The Deputy Commander of Operations of the ESSC, Richard Balogun, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect was apprehended following coordinated intelligence efforts.
Balogun stated that Oko was arrested at a petrol station along Upper Mission Extension during a targeted operation by security personnel.
He added that the suspect has since been handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and possible prosecution.
