Nigerians have been alerted against ATM switch scam syndicates who have devised fraudulent methods of dispossessing innocent citizens Automated Teller Machine cards.
The alert was raised in a statement on Tuesday by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr Dele Oyewale, saying that the commission has received a flood of complaints about the crime.
Oyewale stated that the Commission’s investigations have linked unauthorized withdrawals from clients’ bank accounts to ATM Debit Card switching or fraud.
He added that the crooks’ method entailed keeping a debit card from the same bank and switching it in the guise of assisting a bewildered bank customer at any ATM.
“They swap the card in such a hurry that the customer would not notice and at the same time memorize the pin used in trying the fake cards.
“These cards get stuck in the machine due to a wrong pin and the fraudster quickly abandons the victim, advising him/her to report to the bank while making away with the victim’s card to make immediate withdrawals from the account.
“This card swapping typically happens in any service delivery point, such as Point of Sale (POS) terminals, and ATM points, among others,” Oyewale said.
