Rivers Police Arrest Woman For Alleged ATM Card Swapping Fraud
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 35-year-old woman, Blessing Daberechi Oleru, for alleged involvement in an ATM debit card swapping scheme in Port Harcourt.
Oleru, a resident of Ompadec Road, Igwuruta Town, was apprehended following a complaint by a victim who reported the fraud at Olu-Obasanjo Police Station on November 26, 2024.
According to police reports, the victim was attempting to withdraw cash at an ATM in the Garrison area of Port Harcourt when the machine malfunctioned. Oleru, pretending to offer assistance, swapped the victim’s debit card without detection.
The victim only realized the scam after receiving debit alerts totaling ₦523,600.00 shortly after leaving the ATM.
SP Grace Iringe-Koko, spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, confirmed that a coordinated intelligence operation led to Oleru’s arrest on February 5, 2025.
“During interrogation, she confessed to the crime, and a Moniepoint POS machine was recovered from her possession,” Iringe-Koko stated.
She further revealed that investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to apprehend other members of the syndicate.
