The Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has arrested a 31-year-old resident of Ilobu, Tajudeen Idris, who specialises in defrauding unsuspecting victims.
The suspect was arrested by personnel of the command at about 7:00pm in Ilobu, Osun State.
Parading the suspect at the command headquarters, the state Commandant, Akintayo Adaralewa, said the suspect was arrested after the command received series of complaints from members of the public.
Adaralewa added that a large parcel of cannabis sativa was found in possession of the suspect.
According to the Commandant, the suspect “specializes in defrauding unsuspecting members of the public of their hard-earned money.
The suspect randomly picks phone numbers and puts calls through to his victims telling them he is an acquaintance and that he recently bought a new car and would like the victim to pray for him.
“After the victim has prayed for him, he tells his victim not to end the call. He states his desire to offer some money in appreciation for the prayers. He thereafter asks his victim to visit a POS operator so he can send the money.
“If the victim tells him he/she has a bank account, he gives an excuse that he has carried out a lot of transactions on that day and has thus exhausted his daily limit.
“Once the victim locates a POS operator, the victim handovers the phone without explanation. The suspect Tajudeen Idris would surreptitiously change the narrative by telling the POS operator that the person who gave him the phone is having challenges transferring money to him, he would dictate his account number, and the unsuspecting POS operator sends the money to him.
“After he has carried out this act, he blocks his phone numbers. He has numerous sim cards and several bank accounts that proved nearly impossible to be traced.”
The offence according to the commandant is prohibited by section 1 of the Advance Fee Fraud and other related offences Act, 2006.
Speaking, the suspect who is a bricklayer, said he saw the Bank Verification Number he used in opening the accounts where his victims transferred money to on the street.
