A young man has reportedly been apprehended in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State. He is accused of using fake transfer alerts to defraud Point of Sale (POS) operators and shop owners around Obama Izuoma in Afam. A fake alert is a message that looks like proof of a bank transfer, but no money was sent. During questioning, the suspect allegedly confessed and explained how the scheme worked.
We found no police statement or independent report on this incident. The details come from the video and the report attached to it. The suspect’s name, the number of victims and the amount lost are not known. A confession given during questioning by residents is not proof of guilt, and only a court can decide that.
How the trick reportedly works (a fake message in place of real money)
Fake alert fraud depends on trust in a message. The trader sees a notice on a phone that looks like a bank credit, hands over cash or goods, and later finds the account balance unchanged. In an earlier Rivers case, a suspect told police he downloaded a “prank” bank application, typed in the victim’s account details, and sent a fake alert. He said the victim would see a notification on the phone, but no money would arrive. Reports about the Afam suspect say his method was explained during questioning, but we could not confirm the details.
Where Afam fits (the place behind the story)
Afam is a town in Oyigbo Local Government Area and is the local government’s headquarters. Small shops and POS stands serve daily needs there, which makes the local traders the kind of targets such schemes often go after.
Not a new trick (past cases and what happened to the suspects)
In August 2023, Rivers State police arrested Precious Frank, from Degema Local Government Area, over a ₦100,000 fake transfer at a shop in Borikiri, Port Harcourt. The Commissioner of Police said he was caught after the victim complained, and that he had given information that could lead to other members of a gang. He told police it was his first time. We could not find a report of what happened to him in court.
In Akure, Ondo State, police caught a 26-year-old graduate, Damilola Arowolo, who reportedly used an application he found online to trick shop owners. He admitted using it five times in a month.
In January 2025, Ogun State police arrested two young men for buying clothes worth ₦220,000 with fake bank transfers. Police said one of them had done the same in 2023 to buy a generator worth ₦140,000, and they would be charged once investigations were done. That shows that some offenders return to the crime.
The scheme is still active. In Benin City, the Edo State Security Corps arrested a suspect, identified as John, in September for allegedly cheating several POS operators with fake payment alerts. He was handed to the police for prosecution. In Kwara State, a 34-year-old man was arrested for allegedly taking ₦40,600 from a POS operator with a fake debit alert while posing as an Army member.
In these cases, the reports we found mostly stop at the arrest. They do not show convictions, so we cannot say how often suspects are punished. Such cases are commonly described as obtaining by false pretence, which means getting money or goods by lying.
Easy tools and busy traders (why the fraud works)
Several things help fraudsters. Fake-alert applications are easy to find and use, and they need little skill. Traders work fast, often with long queues and small profit margins, so they may rely on the message on the phone instead of checking the balance. Many POS operators also work alone at roadside stands, with no second person to double-check.
Weak follow-up adds to the problem. When victims lose small sums, they may not report, and arrests do not always lead to public trials. That lowers the cost of trying again.
Small losses, big damage (effects on traders and the country)
For a small trader, even ₦40,000 or ₦100,000 can be a day’s or week’s profit. Some POS operators use borrowed money or their own savings. One fake alert can wipe out a week’s work.
The wider effect is on trust in digital payments. Nigeria is pushing people towards cashless transactions, and POS operators are a key link, especially where banks are far away. If operators fear fake alerts, they may refuse transfers or charge more. That slows digital payments and hurts the customers who rely on them.
Checking before handing over (how to protect yourself)
The security corps in Kwara advised POS operators, traders and business owners to confirm electronic transfers through official banking channels before handing over cash or goods. In simple terms, do not rely on a text message, a screenshot or a phone screen shown by the customer. Check your own bank app or account balance. Wait until you see the money in your account. Be careful when a customer rushes you or says the bank is slow.
Banks can also help by sending alerts faster and by warning customers about fake-alert apps. Police can publish cases that end in conviction, so that would-be offenders see a real cost. Community groups of traders can share the faces and methods of known fraudsters.
A warning for traders and a test for the law
We believe this case is a useful reminder for every trader in Afam and beyond. The safest rule is simple: no confirmed money, no goods. A few minutes spent checking a balance is cheaper than a lost day’s earnings.
At the same time, the suspect is innocent until a court decides otherwise, and a video confession should not replace a proper investigation. What would help most is a clear outcome. If police charge the suspect and the court hears the case, traders will see that fake-alert fraud carries a real penalty. Until then, vigilance is the best protection.
Published by Ejoh Caleb
