A visually-impaired widow in Anambra State has fallen victim t a yet-to-be-identified woman who allegedly stole her Automated Teller Machine card and emptied her account of over N2 million within minutes.
The incident reportedly took place over the weekend at an ATM point in Nnewi, the Nnewi North Local Government Area.
According to bank officials, the theft was uncovered on Tuesday when the widow lodged a complaint about receiving multiple debit alerts.
CCTV footage from the bank revealed the moment the suspect swapped the victim’s ATM card with a fake one.
The 42-second video, which has since gone viral on social media, shows the suspect, dressed in a red top and black trousers, taking advantage of the elderly woman’s visual impairment under the pretence of offering assistance.
Recounting her experience at the bank on Thursday, the distraught widow said she had struggled to operate the ATM due to her visual impairment.
She said, “I went to the ATM to withdraw some cash, but I couldn’t operate the machine properly because of my condition. A lady standing nearby offered to help me.
“She took my card, got my PIN, and swapped it with an expired one. I was unaware of what had happened until I started receiving debit alerts on my phone. Within minutes, she had withdrawn over N2 million from my account.
“This is such a devastating experience, especially at a time when I desperately need funds to make transactions.”
When contacted, a bank official who spoke on condition of anonymity urged customers, particularly vulnerable individuals, to avoid disclosing their PINs to strangers.
“The incident underscores the need for vigilance when using ATMs. If you encounter difficulties, seek assistance from authorized bank personnel instead of strangers,” the official said.
He added, “CCTV footage clearly shows the suspect swapping the victim’s card and proceeding to another ATM to withdraw the money. This act is extremely wicked.
“We call on security agencies and community members to help identify and apprehend the suspect. It is likely she resides within the community.”The Anambra State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that an investigation had been launched to apprehend the culprit.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye, has ordered the deployment of all intelligence-gathering tools to track down the suspect.
Ikenga said, “The Command is aware of a trending video showing a lady at an ATM in Nnewi swapping the card of a 58-year-old visually-impaired woman and withdrawing N2 million in parts.
“The CP has directed investigators to reach out to the victim and gather all necessary information to aid the probe. We are also urging residents of Nnewi and surrounding areas to provide any useful information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect and her possible accomplices.”
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Ikenga assured the public that the police would work tirelessly to bring the suspect to justice, emphasizing the importance of community involvement in tackling such crimes.