A case of Point of Sale (POS) fraud has stirred concern among traders and small business owners in Plateau State following the arrest of a young man accused of deceiving a POS operator and fleeing with a large sum of money.
The suspect, identified as Jonathan Sambo Bitrus, 20, from Bauchi State, is currently in police custody after allegedly orchestrating the scheme at the busy Terminus Market.
According to details provided by the victim, Miss Josephine Morolayo, the incident occurred during her routine work as a POS attendant.
She explained that the suspect approached her stand like a regular customer, first requesting to check his account balance.
His calm demeanor and seemingly harmless request did not raise suspicion at the time, as such inquiries are common in her daily transactions.
Moments later, he made a more substantial request—to withdraw ₦1,950,000 from his account.
Trusting the process and the system, Josephine initiated the transaction and handed over the POS terminal to him to input his PIN, a standard step in completing withdrawals.
However, this moment would later prove to be the turning point in the POS fraud operation.
After he appeared to complete the process, the attendant proceeded to count and hand over ₦1,550,000 in cash to him.
She then politely asked him to wait for the remaining ₦400,000, explaining that her employer had stepped out briefly and would return soon with additional funds.
The suspect agreed, or so it seemed, but he disappeared shortly afterward without collecting the balance.
It was only when her employer returned that the full extent of the deception became clear.
Upon reviewing the transaction more carefully, Josephine discovered that the receipt she relied on did not correspond to the current transaction.
Instead, it was linked to a previous operation conducted before the suspect arrived. This realization confirmed that she had fallen victim to a calculated act of POS fraud.
The case was promptly reported to the Plateau State Police Command, which launched an investigation that eventually led to the suspect’s arrest.
During questioning, Bitrus reportedly confessed to the crime and provided insight into how he executed the scheme.
He admitted that when the POS machine was handed to him, he navigated through the transaction history and noticed a prior transaction amounting to ₦1,950,000.
Seizing the opportunity, he requested a withdrawal of the same amount despite knowing that his account had no funds.
While pretending to process the transaction, he cancelled it discreetly, creating the illusion that it had been completed successfully.
This manipulation allowed him to walk away with a significant amount of money without any actual debit from his account, a tactic that highlights a growing trend in financial crime Nigeria.
The suspect further revealed that he used the stolen funds to purchase an iPhone 13 Pro as well as clothing items before his arrest.
Police spokesperson SP Alfred Alabo confirmed the development, stating that the suspect was apprehended shortly after the report was filed.
He added that the command acted swiftly based on credible information and that the suspect’s confession has strengthened the case against him.
According to the police, he will soon be charged in court to face prosecution.
The incident has raised fresh concerns about POS operator safety, particularly in busy commercial hubs like Terminus Market.
Many operators, often young individuals working under pressure, may not be fully equipped to detect sophisticated tricks used in modern POS fraud schemes.
Experts advise POS operators to remain vigilant, especially when handling unusually large transactions.
Simple precautions such as verifying transaction alerts directly from the system, avoiding reliance on displayed receipts alone, and maintaining control of the POS device at all times can significantly reduce risks.
This case also underscores the importance of continuous awareness and training for operators to adapt to evolving fraud tactics.
As digital payment systems become more widespread, so too do the methods employed by fraudsters seeking to exploit them.
For traders and customers alike, the incident serves as a cautionary tale about the need for alertness in financial dealings.
While the swift action of the Plateau State police has brought some relief, the broader issue of POS fraud remains a pressing challenge that requires collective effort to address.
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