Police in Cross River State have arrested a suspect accused of defrauding bank customers by stealing their automated teller machine PINs in Calabar. The Cross River State Police Command said the suspect was arrested on October 6, 2026, over alleged fraud involving unsuspecting ATM users.
According to the suspect's account given to police, he targeted customers who appeared to need assistance at ATM points. He would offer help and then switch the machine to cardless transaction mode while keeping the customer's card, making them believe it remained inside the machine. As the customer proceeded with their transaction and entered their PIN to complete a withdrawal, transfer or inquiry, the suspect would memorise the information before leaving the premises.
The Cross River State Police Command's Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, disclosed the details in a statement. Eitokpah explained that the suspect allegedly memorised customers' PINs as they entered them, then left the ATM point with the information needed to carry out fraudulent transactions elsewhere. Customers would subsequently discover that their cards were missing and their accounts had been debited.
The police said the suspect allegedly worked with a getaway driver who was still being sought by the command. Eitokpah added that the divisional police officer responsible for the area had been tracking the suspect and had previously held meetings with bank managers to address reported fraudulent activities around ATM points.
The police urged members of the public to remain cautious when using ATMs and avoid handing their cards or PINs to strangers offering assistance. For bank customers in Nigeria, this case highlights the risks of trusting unfamiliar people at ATM points, even when they appear helpful.