The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a syndicate who specialise in defrauding innocent traders using fake bank payment alerts.

The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Haruna Mohammed, said in a statement on Tuesday that the suspects who specialise in defrauding innocent traders by generating fake bank payment alerts went to the shop of one Godwin Chukwu of No.59 Zik Avenue, Awka, on July 31 to buy televisions sets, fraudulently generated and sent fake SMS alert for the payment of N200,000 to his phone and he released two 43-inch television sets to them oblivious of their fraudulent trick.

The suspects, who are residents of Gariki Ugwuoba, Enugu State, include 25-year-old Eko Charles, who is the main suspect, and Rabiu Idris aged 24, receiver of the goods.

The statement reads in part: “On the 1/8/2019 at about 6:20pm, following intelligence report, Police operatives attached to the Command Monitoring Unit (CMU) arrested the following syndicate.

“Consequently, on the 1/8/2019 at about 1pm, suspects did the same thing and collected 4 Televisions and other accessories all valued at N230,000.

“Complainant went to the bank to withdraw the money but was told by the bank that no payment was made into his account.”

According to Mohammed, the syndicate placed another order for 95-inch TV, a deep freezer, Sumec fireman generator with a promise to send an alert but Police detectives laid siege within and around the shop premises and arrested the main suspect, one Eko Charles who came to collect the items.

Meanwhile, four 32 inches television sets earlier collected by the suspect under false pretense from the complainant were recovered from Rabiu Idris.

He said that case is under investigation after which suspects would be charged to court for prosecution.

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