Connect with us


BIG STORY

Help Fish Out ‘Tofunmi’ Suspected ATM Fraudster, EFCC Tells Nigerians [See Her Picture]

Published

on

Tofunmi ATM Thief

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has raised the alarm about the activities of identity thieves and automated teller machine fraudsters in the country.

It has also urged Nigerians to be more careful when carrying out transactions via ATMs and to avoid disclosing their Personal Identification Numbers to others.

In a post on its Facebook page, the anti-graft agency drew attention to the activity of one suspected ATM fraudster, who goes by the name Akinade Tofunmi.

The EFCC, which has released images of the suspect, is seeking the cooperation and support of Nigerians to capture her and prevent her from defrauding more people.

The suspected scammer, who is being trailed by the Ibadan Zonal Office of the EFCC, is into identity theft and lurks around the ATMs and Point of Sale machines.

According to the EFFC, Tofunmi, operates late in the night when all bank transactions had closed and preferably over the weekend when her prospective victims may not be able to alert the banks for any unauthorised transaction.

“In her last operation, within twenty four hours; this fraudster who operates with the identity of her victims succeeded to have raked in about three million (N3m) within 24 hours,” the anti-graft agency revealed.

Tofunmi thief

One of the methods employed by the suspected fraudster is to approach people having difficulty using the ATM politely and in a cultured manner and offering to help them, only to dupe them in the end.

For instance, on Friday, June 3, 2016, the EFCC said she had helped a woman known as Alhaja to withdraw money at an ATM in Ibadan. But instead of returning the ATM card to the woman afterwards, she swapped the card with another in her possession.

Tofunmi thief2

Equipped with the card and the pin as well as with the knowledge that N3m was in the account she made several ATM withdrawals and carried out PoS transactions.

The EFCC added, “Having exceeded the daily withdrawing limit for that day, she waited for a few minutes to the following day which was a Saturday.

“Shortly after midnight, she made another rounds of withdrawals to the tune of one hundred and fifty thousand naira which was also the daily limit for that day.

“However, Alhaja and her husband had no one to run or call that night to save the situation when the debit alerts start coming in torrent.”

Tofunmi thief3

Not satisfied with what she had stolen, the fraudster started transferring funds out of the account to another one.

“In a desperate need of where and how to empty the balance in the account, she went to a night club where she met a motorcycle transporter, popularly known as Okada whom she approached for a help. Her decoy was that she had enough money in her account but could not access it having exceeded her daily withdrawal limit,” the EFCC said.

“She showed the bike man her balance and pleaded with him to give her his ATM card, account details and PIN for a quick teller transfer from her (Alhaja’s) account to the bike man’s account. With that, she has been able to secure some of Alhaja’s money in the bike man’s account thereby stealing the identity of the unsuspecting bike man.”

She continued her scam when she got the motorcyclist to take her to a hotel.

“At the hotel reception while paying for her accommodation which was N10, 000 for one night, she deliberated credited the hotel’s account with N101, 000 feigning a mistake and demanded a refund of ninety-one thousand naira (N91, 000) balance of an overpayment. This was also done with Alhaja’s ATM card through the POS machine at the Hotel.

“To further conceal her identity, she provided fake personal details in the hotel and gave the hotel the bike man’s account detail when the hotel management requested for an account to deposit the refund.
All these happened on Saturday; hence, Alhaja and her husband are still in dilemma with no help in sight to stop the transactions in the account.

“By Sunday, Alhaja’s money had moved to the fraudster both in cash and through transfer to the bike man account domicile in the same bank. All these while, the fraudster was in possession of both Alhaja the first victim and the bike man, the second victim’s ATM cards.”

The bike man was arrested on Monday June 5, when he could no longer reach the fraudster on phone and went to the bank to request for another ATM card.”

The EFCC said the suspect has defrauded others and has been spotted in other parts of the country.

 

 

Advertisement

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Dame B

    July 19, 2016 at 10:45 am

    Nemesis will soon catch up with her.

  2. Ajibola tunji

    July 19, 2016 at 12:50 pm

    She is going no where. She will soon bring to the book.. trust me.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

BIG STORY

JUST IN: Ekiti State’s Chief Judge Oyewole Adeyeye Is Dead

Published

on

Oyewole Adeyeye, the chief judge of Ekiti state, is dead.

Adeyeye reportedly died in the early hours of Tuesday.

It was gathered that the late chief judge has been unwell since July 12, 2023.

The illness followed severe injuries he sustained when a section of the state high court complex collapsed on him.

 

More to come…

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Protesters Demand Mele Kyari’s Resignation At NNPCL Headquarters

Published

on

A group of youth protesters stormed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) headquarters on Monday, demanding the immediate resignation of Group CEO Mele Kyari.

The protesters, backed by Civil Society Organizations, criticized Kyari’s leadership, citing rising fuel prices, persistent fuel shortages, and the overall economic hardship in Nigeria.

The protesters carrying placards with different inscriptions such as “we demand the immediate resignation of Kyari,” among others, said the leadership of the NNPCL boss has failed.

The aggrieved youths led by Abdullahi Bilal of the (Two Million Man March Against Oil Scam Cabal) and Barrister Napoleon Otache and Olayemi Isaac from Citizens and Economic Freedom Rights Activists in Nigeria demanded immediate action to address what they described as failed leadership in managing the country’s oil sector.

Central to the protests were grievances over skyrocketing fuel prices and the never-ending queues, which they argued have driven inflation and plunged millions of Nigerians into poverty.

They also decried the importation of adulterated fuel, which they said is a corrupt practice that harms citizens by damaging vehicles and businesses.

They demanded an immediate halt to these imports and accountability for those responsible, questioning how substandard fuel continues to enter the country despite quality control assurances.

Additionally, the group criticized the unfulfilled promise of the Dangote refinery to resolve Nigeria’s fuel crisis, expressing frustration over the billions of dollars spent on refinery development and refurbishing existing facilities.

They argued that despite these investments, fuel shortages persist, leaving Nigeria reliant on costly imports even as an oil-producing nation.

They urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene by overhauling leadership in the oil sector, enforcing greater accountability, and putting citizens’ needs first. The protesters vowed to continue mobilizing until their demands for reform and transparency are met.

Speaking to journalists during the mass demonstration, Abdullahi Bilal said, “The Two Million Man March stands as a united voice for every citizen who has been betrayed by a system that continues to enrich a few at the expense of many.

“Today, we call for the immediate resignation of the current leadership in the country’s oil sector. Their management has failed Nigerians.

“Under their watch, we have seen fuel prices skyrocket without consultation or consideration of the devastating impact on the people. We have endured fuel scarcity while substandard, adulterated fuel is imported, causing further hardship.

“We demand the complete removal of the fraudulent fuel subsidy regime that has only served to enrich a select few. Full deregulation is necessary to introduce transparency, competition, and fairness to our oil sector.”

On their part, Otache and Isaac, insisted, “This act of economic sabotage has led to endless fuel queues, skyrocketing fuel prices, and unprecedented disruptions in the daily lives of Nigerians.

“We demand an immediate end to fuel queues, transparency, and accountability from all involved parties. We want to know how substandard fuel continues to enter the country despite assurances of quality control.”

On July 7, 2019, former President Mohammadu Buhari appointed Kyari as the 19th GMD of NNPC, but with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act, his current portfolio is without recourse to previous employment ranks in the company.

  • NNPCL reacts

Reacting, the NNPCL spokesperson, Femi Soneye, said the protestors lack understanding of the sector.

He explained that contrary to their agitation, the GCEO ensured Nigerians had access to fuel at N620 per litre for over a year, even when the landing cost was above N1,100.

Responding via a chat, Soneye said, “Unfortunately, they lack understanding of the sector. If they were informed, they would know that the GCEO is not responsible for the fuel price increase; in fact, he ensured Nigerians had access to fuel at N620 per litre for over a year, even when the landing cost was above N1,100.”

He also urged the group to provide pieces of evidence supporting their claim that the national oil firm currently imports adulterated fuel.

“NNPC Ltd does not import adulterated fuel. If anyone has evidence to the contrary, they should bring forward samples of any such fuel imported by NNPC.

“I won’t waste time engaging with individuals motivated by selfish interests. We have more pressing projects to accomplish to ensure energy security for our nation, rather than focusing on inconsequential groups. We are committed to implementing President Bola Tinubu’s roadmap for the sector, and no group will deter or distract us from achieving this goal,” Soneye added.

Credit: The Punch

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

INSECURITY: Driver Killed As Gunmen Abduct Five Kebbi Travellers

Published

on

A passenger driver, simply identified as “Emeka,” was shot dead when suspected kidnappers abducted five passengers traveling from Kebbi State to Asaba in Delta State.

It was gathered that the attack occurred at a point between Kwana-Barau and Kundu village, Niger State, on Sunday, during which five people were abducted. However, one “Emeka,” who was driving the vehicle with Reg. No. “LND 863 YF,” was shot dead.

In a related incident, operatives in Niger State also rescued 19 passengers who were traveling from Sokoto to Bayelsa State before they were attacked by suspected kidnappers and taken into a forest.

The victims, who were attacked by the kidnappers on November 1, 2024, were traveling in a Toyota bus with Reg. No. “LG 08 DGS” from Sokoto State. They were abducted at Gidan-Kwakwa along the Tegina-Zungeru Road in Niger State.

The spokesman for the Niger State Police Command, Wasiu Abiodun, who made this known in a statement on Monday, disclosed that all the victims were rescued unharmed.

“On 03/11/2024 at about 0600hrs, it was reported that on the same date at about 0130hrs, suspected kidnappers attacked a vehicle with Reg. No. “LND 863 YF” from Yawuri Kebbi State heading to Asaba, Delta State.

“The attack occurred at a point between Kwana-Barau and Kundu village, and five people were reportedly abducted. Unfortunately, one “Emeka,” the driver, was shot dead.

“The joint security tactical team responded and combed the forest. In the process, four victims were rescued unharmed within Kattako forest, Rafi LGA. However, efforts are being intensified to rescue the remaining one victim in captivity as the rescue operation continues,” Abiodun stated.

Abiodun also stated that the 19 passengers who were kidnapped on their way from Sokoto to Bayelsa State were rescued unharmed after intense pressure was put on the kidnappers.

“On 01/11/2024 at about 0630hrs, information was received that on the same date at about 0230hrs, some passengers traveling in a Toyota Bus with Reg. No. “LG 08 DGS” from Sokoto State heading to Bayelsa State were attacked by suspected kidnappers at Gidan-Kwakwa along the Tegina-Zungeru Road and abducted 19 people into the forest.

“Immediately the information was received, a joint security tactical team mobilized and trailed the suspected kidnappers. As a result of the sustained pressure, 12 victims were abandoned by the hoodlums and were rescued on 02/11/2024 at about 0642hrs along the Pangugari forest in Rafi LGA.

“As the rescue operation was intensified, at about 2100hrs on the same date, the remaining seven victims were also rescued unharmed within the forest, making a total of 19 victims rescued. The victims were taken to a nearby clinic for medical attention and were released to return to Sokoto State on 03/11/2024,” Abiodun stated.

Continue Reading



 

Join Us On Facebook

Most Popular