The Kano State Police Command has arrested a suspected fraudster who specialises in generating fake bank alerts to dupe unsuspecting members of the public.
The spokesperson of the command, ASP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, who disclosed this in a statement said the suspect, Aminu Abdullahi, 50, took advantage of his resemblance to renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Usman Gadon Kaya, to dubiously collect goods worth over N2m from traders.
On 22nd November 2024, at about 6pm, a report was received from one Sunusi Aminu, ‘m’, of Gwale Quarters Kano that on the same date at about 5pm, one Aminu went to his Shop, presented himself as a younger brother to Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Usman Gadon Kaya collected two cartons of spaghetti valued N35,000:00 and maneuvered a fake alert on his phone,” the statement read.
Having presented himself as a brother to the revered Sheikh, they allowed him to go without seeing the transaction alert. After he left, when he checked his account balance, there was no such transaction.
On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Salman Dogo Garba raised and instructed a team led by SP Abdulrahim Adamu, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Gwale Division to launch an investigation. The team immediately swung into action and arrested the suspect. He was later identified as Aminu Abdullahi, ‘m’, 50 years old of Kofar Nassarawa Quarters Kano.
On preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed that he is neither a brother nor a relative to Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Gadon Kaya, and he can maneuver fake alert. That, having heard from people that he looked like the said Sheikh, took advantage and went to various shops and collected goods worth over two million naira. So far after his arrest, a total of twenty (20) Complainants have lodged complaints against him, which he confessed to have deceived, defrauded, and went away with their valuables.
The Commissioner of Police directed that the case has been transferred to the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for discreet investigation. Whoever recognizes the person and has a complaint about him can come to the Kano State Police Command Headquarters through the Office of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), or contact the investigation team through 08166999948. Suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.
The Commissioner of Police appreciates the good people of Kano State for their prayers, support, encouragement, and cooperation. He advised residents to be wary of impostors, fraudsters, and scammers and report suspicious transactions. In case of emergencies or suspicious person(s) / item(s), Kano State Police Command can be contacted through the following phone numbers; 08032419754, 08123821575, 09029292926.
