Katsina police bust POS scam syndicate, recover millions

Katsina State Police Command has arrested a four-man gang specialized in swapping Point-of-Sale (POS) machines to steal from unsuspecting victims.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Abubakar Aliyu Sadiq, paraded the suspects during a press briefing held at the Command’s headquarter on Thursday.

He noted that the arrest was made on May 12, 2024, following a tip-off from the public.

He identified the suspects as Abdulhakeem Haruna (20), Habibu Kabir (28), Aminu Abubakar (27), and Abubakar Bishir (25).

The suspects, who are all residents of Katsina, were alleged to have swindled five business owners of a total sum of N4.763 million.

According to the PPRO, during their operation, the gang reportedly swapped the victims’ POS machines with identical-looking fakes and used them to illegally withdraw money from the victims’ accounts.

The police recovered four POS machines believed to be part of their loot, the spokesman said, adding that the suspects had confessed to the crime and that investigation was ongoing.

Katsina State Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, commended the officers involved in the operation and urged the public to be vigilant.

He advised residents to report any suspicious activities to the police for prompt action.

The Commissioner also assured the public of the command’s commitment to apprehending criminals and protecting citizens from their activities.