How bank’s ATM analyst connived with fraudsters to steal over N20m from customers’ accounts

THE operatives of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS) have arrested a staff member of a new generation bank, Christian Amechi, who allegedly helped fraudsters to steal millions of naira from customers account using a string of impersonators.

Amechi, who until his arrest, was serving at the ATM customers service unit, of the bank in  Victoria Island Lagos,  is currently being detained at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Lagos State Police Command.

He was arrested penultimate Wednesday along with five other members of the syndicate. Together, the gang had allegedly removed over N20 million from accounts belonging to different customers.

Those who were arrested along with Christian are Oyozoje Joseph, 30, Nelson Matthew Eugari, Henry Omogbemi, 31, and Ene Mona Gabriel.

Luck ran against the banker after the police team arrested the leader of a gang of pickpockets, Akeem Apejoye, in Lagos. In his confessional statement, the pickpocket told the police how Amechi and his gang encouraged him to continue to steal phones.

Akeem told the police that the gang’s  interest is mainly the SIM cards of stolen phones.

After his arrest, he led the police to the homes of those who had been collecting SIM cards from him.

Though, he denied  that he was not in the know that Amechi and his group used the SIM card to steal money from the accounts of customers, he said that the group often bought drinks for him at beer parlour joints whenever he ran into them.

He said that they all grew up in Ajegunle and that he enjoyed being in the company of the gang members, particularly at weekends.

“I used the proceeds which I made from picking pockets to open a boutique in Ajegunle. My shop is located along Ojo Road,” Akeem told the police.

Narrating how his gang removed several millions of naira from victims account, Amechi said that all that was needed for the illegal transfer to succeed was the customer’s SIM card, stressing that any account holder who does online transaction has his or her  BVN number stored on his or her phone.

“I grew up in Ajegunle and I know almost all members of the gang. I knew them on the street, but I was introduced into the business by one of my friends known as Osey Boy and DJ. I attended the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, (UNN). I read Banking and Finance. I am an ATM card system analyst.

“Osey Boy and DJ are referred to as the gang “shooters”. What it means is that they could  remove bank secret code numbers, particularly the BVN from phones. The moment any member of the gang laid his hand on stolen SIM card, they would dial the USSD number and with this they would  access the owner’s BVN. That is if the owner does online banking. Once this is done, they will send me the six last digits with which I could access the owner’s account. My job is to ascertain how much is in the account and at times help transfer money to the person who provided me the information. The gang could then transfer at least N200,000 per transaction into their own account from where they will have easy access to the stolen funds.

“The gang pays me between N10,000 to N15,000 per transfer and I have lost count of how many of such transactions we have done in the past. In all, I have made at least N150,000 and I used part of it to upgrade my certificate,” he said.

Chris, as he is fondly referred to by his gang members also revealed that, aside helping the gang to generate information of account holders, he also provided the gang with telephone numbers of victims.

He disclosed in his confession that, at  times, the gang would do a welcome back of some of the telephone numbers he generated.

His words: “What happens in this case is that the original owner of the line would not be able to make or receive calls. All calls or text messages on such numbers can only be accessed by the person who did the welcome back. The gang members are staff of Telecommute Tin Providers. This people are the ones who do the welcome back for the gang on any number to be profiled.

Amechi and Enamo

“My greatest pain was when my aged mother came to see me when I was  in police custody. I pray that God will give her the heart and courage to bear the pains because I know that she will be going through so much pain right now.”

Another member of the gang, Oyosoje Joseph, an engineer who graduated from the University of Lagos, said he had made well over N10 million from local fraud.

The 30 year old who resides at No. 80 Adekeye Street, Ajegunle, said  he joined the gang out of frustration.

As at the time of his arrest, the suspect had over N5 million in one of his accounts. It was learnt that the suspect is also presently being hunted for by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

An account he operates with one of the new generation banks has been frozen.

Another suspect, Henry Omagbemi, 31, is said to have operated a network of bogus names to launder the proceeds. A police source said that members of the gang were all involved in a scheme to defraud account holders of millions of naira.

‘Accounts belonging to people with large balances – in some cases several millions of naira were targeted. To identify those rich accounts, Amechi, an employee of  a new generation bank was recruited to help the gang. As an insider, he would then assist in breaching the security protocols in order to steal the money. The money would be transferred to accomplices who would swiftly transfer the money through a number of bogus businesses before the money would eventually disappear” the police source said.

Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Chike Oti, confirmed the arrest. He said that one of the victims lost more than N2 million after a member of the gang used a fake welcome back telephone number in the account holder’s name to set up two transfers over three days.

A customer with N200 million in the bank only escaped becoming a victim when they were arrested. - The Nation

Facebook scams: how to stay safe

Facebook investments scams supposedly featuring money-savvy celebrities and business figures are catching people out, a fraud organisation is warning.

Figures revealed to The Sun Online show that 1,639 scams were reported to Action Fraud in 2017, the majority of which are related to online shopping.

Victims reportedly lose an average of £342 but there are 24 cases of British victims being scammed out of £10,000.

This is only based on what’s been sent to Action Fraud, so there could be many more victims out there.

Recently, Richard Branson’s face appeared on a get-rich-quick bitcoin advert. People who clicked on the ad were taken through to a fake CNN page, which then took them through to a scam site claiming users could win free Bitcoins.

Senior Conservative MP Damian Collins, chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, criticised the advert.

He said: “Fake adverts displayed on social media platforms are a real problem, and one that the social media companies must tackle.”

Taking action

Last year, Facebook announced that it was hiring 3,000 extra members of staff to make sure that it can respond to reports of misleading ads more quickly.

The social media giant’s guidelines state that adverts must not be “deceptive, false or misleading” but users are still seeing and reporting scams in their newsfeeds.

All you need is a Facebook page and a credit card to promote a post in people’s newsfeeds and are given specific criteria for the type of user they want to target. 

Facebook leaves it up to users to report posts that are false, malicious or distasteful but, alongside Google and Twitter, has come under pressure to review how paid ads are bought and promoted.

How to stay safe

Be especially wary of investment ‘opportunities’ that you see on social media – just because it has a famous face on it, doesn’t mean that it has been endorsed by them. It’s very easy to use pictures of well-known personalities without their permission.

Do some research online to see if the claims are backed up in numerous reputable sources.

If you do happen to see a dodgy ad, take a screenshot of it and report it to Facebook using this form. You should also let Action Fraud know by ringing 0300 123 2040 or using its online reporting tool. - Lovemoney

FG: We’ve released $1m for delivery of free contraceptives

Isaac Adewole, minister of health, says the federal government has released $1 million for the delivery of contraceptives to improve family planning.

The minister made this known while addressing state house correspondents after the federal executive council (FEC) meeting.

According to him, procurement for the implementation of the plan led by a committee chaired by a director in the ministry had equally been secured.

The minister said the ministry had submitted nine proposals which had equally been approved by the council since 2016.

Adewole also said Nigeria would soon start producing its own vaccines.

At present, Nigeria depends on vaccines from the World Health Organisation and other international organisations.

Adewole said there is a presidential approval for a joint venture between the federal government and May & Baker for the production of local vaccines.

He said a board was constituted on January 19 to oversee the venture and production will begin within the next two years.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Fiona Braka, WHO representative, said the organisation has pledged 20 million doses of Yellow Fever vaccine to help Nigeria eradicate the disease.

“The global body is ready to assist the country in achieving the total vaccination of the populace in line with the Elimination of Yellow fever Epidemics (EYE) by 2026,” Barka said.

“The global community is committed to this course and has pledged 20 million doses available annually to achieve the target despite the global vaccine shortfall.”

Nigeria had been declared free of Yellow fever until the disease resurfaced in 2017.

Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Its symptoms include fever, headache, jaundice, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Some infected people may not experience any of these symptoms.

In severe cases, bleeding may occur from the mouth, nose, eyes or stomach. - Cable Nigeria

Terrorism : Fulani herdsmen attack 2 female teachers in Ogun

Female primary school teachers of Onigbedu community in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State were on Thursday attacked by suspected herdsmen.

It was gathered that the two teachers who sustined serious injuries were on their to school at Atola village when two herdsmen accosted and afflicted machete cuts on them.

The Chairman of Ewekoro North LCDA, Mr. Kehinde Adepegba, who confirmed the incident to Punch, said that the affected teachers had since been moved from the maternity hospital they were initially into a government-owned medical facility in the Ijaiye area of the state.

He said, “The Ogun State Government has taken over the case and as we speak the affected teachers have been transferred from our maternity hospital at Onigedu to the Ogun State General Hospital at Ijaiye. They are receiving treatment and are recuperating.

“Following the incident, all security agencies in the state have been placed on the alert. As a matter of fact, I even learnt that some arrests have been made. While still searching for the perpetrators of the attack; we have put certain strategies in place to forestall against a similar occurrence in future.

“From preliminary reports, we gathered that the herdsmen who carried out the attack only recently migrated to the area. They are not part of the Fulani community cohabiting with the locals. They are unknown in the locality but they will be apprehended.”

The force PRO in Ogun, Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident, saying two persons were arrested but later set free upon discovery that the suspects were known faces among the residents of the area.

Obasanjo should be in prison, not qualified to speak for Nigerians – Seun Kuti

Seun Kuti, son of late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has condemned a statement credited to former president Olusegun Obasanjo over poor governance in Nigeria.

The former president had on Tuesday given several reasons Buhari should not seek re-election in 2019.

Reacting, Seun on his Instagram page said Obasanjo who should be in jail for his corrupt practices has no right to speak for Nigerians.

He lamented the level of corruption and injustice perpetrated by military leaders without prosecution.

He wrote, “When black people have no code how can we develop our culture? How many letters did u write to abacha? If there was justice in this land, na only civilians dey corrupt? When will there be justice against the military elites at the top of the gangster corruption machine called Nigeria.

“When will Obasanjo. IBB. Buhari. Ty danjuma and the rest of them face justice for their atrocities?

“I mean people who should be inside the darkest part of jail are bold enough to speak for the people? A people they have robbed and maimed and killed for sixty years. #oneday!” - Daily Post

Herdsmen killings: No decent country allows cattle roam about – Oluwo carpets FG

Paramount ruler and King (Oluwo) of Iwo land, Osun state, Nigeria, HIM Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi has lambasted the Federal government of Nigeria for allowing grazing and cattle roaming.

The monarch said such is barbaric and should be abolished at once as it does not conform to modernization and 21st century development of any country.

Oba AbdulRasheed made this statement yesterday during a meeting with stakeholders at his palace focusing on solutions to herdsmen incessant attacks on innocent Nigerians.

He said no government that wants to move forward will encourage grazing and that there’s no place in the world where government acquires land on behalf of herdsmen for the purpose of cattle grazing.

He added that the herdsmen can either rent, lease or buy lands for pen/byre construction to house their cattle and that it is at the farmer’s or land owner’s discretion to sell to them.

“The herdsmen got it wrong due to lack of education towards animal farming in the 21st century. The alternative to grazing is pen with sufficient hay storage.

“This will help restrict the cows to the confines of the pen, which is a controlled area. That is how it is done in advanced country. You can never see herdsmen grazing cattle in Europe.

“The herdsmen can even purchase hays to feed the cows can be purchased from the farmers thereby establishing and sustaining a peaceful affinity with farmers across Nigeria,” Oluwo added.

Oba AbdulRasheed, however, advised the federal government that the solution to Fulani herdsmen/farmers recurring clash is proper orientation and education on modernized animal farming and not acquiring hectares of land on behalf of herdsmen as grazing zone across the federation. - Daily Post

Suspected Boko Haram fighter arrested in Germany

A 27-year-old Nigerian suspected to be a member of Boko Haram and killing people during attacks on schools and a village has been arrested in Germany.

The man, named as Amaechi Fred O., was detained on Wednesday in Bavaria and a day later a judge issued an arrest warrant and ordered that he be remanded in custody, the chief federal prosecutor said on Friday.

“He is strongly suspected of being a member of the foreign terrorist organisation Boko Haram,” Reuters quoted the prosecutor as saying in a statement.

The statement said the suspect was believed to have joined Boko Haram in 2013 and had admitted to actively taking part in four attacks against Nigerians during his one-year membership of the group.

He is accused of killing several people in attacks on schools and villages, during which members of Boko Haram took girls as hostages and burnt down a church.

Six things you need to know before eating airline food

1. Your food was probably cooked yesterday.

Most meals are pre-cooked on the ground, normally up to 12 hours before a flight's departure time. They're then flash frozen and kept in vast warehouses till they're driven across the airport and loaded on to planes.

Depending on the length of the flight – and the length of any flight delays – the food can be kept chilled on board for another 12 hours before the cabin crew finally fire up the ovens to reheat and serve it.

2. First class food isn't actually that special.

If you're in economy faced with an uninspiring tray of pasta, dreaming of the delicious steak frites you're sure they're serving in first class, think again.

Airlines farm out their food preparation to a handful of anonymous firms where workers go from one client to another all day. So your fancy upper-class dinner could have been made by the same people who work make economy class lunches. And you have to hope they don't mix them up.

3. It's never going to taste great.

Low air pressure and low humidity dry out our noses, which deadens our sense of taste. Scientists even say noise affects taste – so the hum of plane engines spoils our dinner. And it even gets dissed by chefs who help prepare it.

After being a culinary adviser to a major airline for years Gordon Ramsay recently said there's 'no way' he would eat in the air. 'I know where the food's been and where it goes and how long it took before it got on board,' he said.

4. It's got a secret ingredient or two.

Chefs and scientists try to make sky high dining a bit better. They know that certain extras help our enjoyment, so meal are overloaded with salt and pepper. They've also found something new, the so-called 'fifth taste' of umami, which perks up most foods at altitude. There's a lot of it in tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach – so expect more of those in airline dishes from now on.

5. It's not healthy (and we don't want it to be).

We lose our ability to taste sugar at 35,000 feet – so extra portions are added to plane food to compensate. And while portions may look small they pack a big punch. Oxford University professor Charles Spence says we consume an average of 3,400 calories on a typical long-haul flight – that's the same as six Big Macs.

And while airlines offer healthy options we don't normally pick them. Cabin crew say they often get just one fruit salad loaded on to a typical jumbo – and no-one ever orders it.

6. You can't even trust the water.

'For the past few years cabin crew friends have been obsessed by the fact that the water tanks on planes never get cleaned,' says Jennie Jordan. The water in these tanks is heated up to make tea and coffee – and as water boils at a lower temperature at altitude it never produces the perfect cuppa.

Worse, crew think the dirty tanks and pipes could have all sorts of bugs in them, which is why lots of them drink bottled water in the air and are gasping for a proper coffee when they land. - Prime

Brexit: Britons favour second referendum by 16-point margin – poll

Voters support the idea of holding a second EU referendum by a 16-point margin, according to one of the largest nationwide opinion polls since the Brexit vote.

The ICM survey, conducted as part of a Guardian reporting project, found 47% of people would favour having a final say on Brexit once the terms of the UK’s departure are known, while 34% oppose reopening the question.

Excluding the roughly one-fifth who do not have a view gives a lead of 58% to 42% for a second referendum, showing rising interest in the idea as concern grows over the direction of recent negotiations. 

The increased backing has come from both sides of the debate, with one-quarter of leave voters in favour of having another referendum on the final deal.

Other key findings include:

Mounting concern about the impact of leaving, with 43% of voters worried Brexit will have a negative effect on the UK economy and a narrow majority believing it will have a negative impact on the “British way of life”.

Signs that Labour voters may be becoming more open to a rethink, with 9% of the party’s leave backers switching to remain, and stronger support for a second referendum in marginal Labour seats than elsewhere.

A hardening of the Brexit demographic divide, with young voters 17% more likely than before to support remain and over-65s more determined than ever to leave.

A widening of the geographic gulf, with voters in Scotland even more likely to vote remain, but support for leave holding up in Wales and parts of England, such as the Midlands.

The consequences of revisiting the vote are hard to predict, with the country still split largely in two, and signs of both camps hardening their positions.

The poll was underpinned by Guardian journalists reporting from around the country, where they found support for leave hardening in Mansfield, Labour supporters arguing for a second referendum in Bristol, older voters in Torbay who continue to wholeheartedly back Brexit, and students in Leeds angry and concerned that it is going ahead. 

Overall, the ICM poll, carried out in mid-January, confirms a small but persistent shift in recent months towards remain, with 51% of those expressing a view saying they were now in favour of staying in the EU.

But this would be a tighter margin than the 52% leave result of the June 2016 referendum, suggesting a clearer mandate for reversing the decision would only come if growing numbers of leavers reacted negatively to the conclusion of negotiations with the EU.

Pollsters have struggled in recent years to predict correct outcomes, although the 5,075 people polled is a representative sample five times bigger than many similar surveys.

Alex Turk, a senior research executive at ICM Unlimited, said: “On the results of this poll of 5,000, the result of a second EU referendum would be far from a foregone conclusion.”

To the extent that there is a shift towards remain, it is largely due to voters who did not, or could not, participate in the referendum saying they would be more likely to do so next time. Of those who voted, 90% said they would stick to their previous choice, and the numbers of people switching sides largely cancel each other out.

But it is the growing numbers of people in both camps who favour revisiting the question that is likely to have the biggest short-term political impact.

Previously, support for a second referendum had been limited. A smaller Guardian/ICM poll in December found 45% of voters wanted the UK to leave the EU regardless of the outcome of negotiations, with 32% wanting a second referendum and 10% favouring a parliamentary vote.

What would happen if parliament were to reject the Brexit deal remains unclear, but many pro-EU campaigners increasingly argue that a vote could be phrased in such a way as to give Britons a chance to change their minds about the overall departure from the EU if they did not like the terms on offer.

Representatives from several leading pro-EU groups met in London recently to consider ways of working more closely on overturning Brexit, rather than merely campaigning for a less extreme version, a tactic some senior business leaders are privately known to favour.

Support for asking the question is also growing in unlikely quarters, as the weakness of the government’s mandate and negotiating stance becomes clearer. Speaking earlier this month, the ex-Ukip leader Nigel Farage said: “Maybe, just maybe, I’m reaching the point of thinking that we should have a second referendum on EU membership.”

On Wednesday, the Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg criticised the Brexit secretary, David Davis, for proposing a two-year transition that would leave Britain as a “vassal state” and pointed out that it would soon have less influence.

Donald Tusk, the European council president, has said the EU would be open to a British rethink, while a group of former German business leaders has called on Brussels negotiators to offer a compromise deal on immigration that would help persuade the UK to reverse Brexit.

The ICM poll found 32% thought Brexit would have a positive impact on the UK economy, compared with a 38% response when the same question was asked last February. - The Guardian UK