9 Youths Reveal ATM Fraud Tactics


Nine young men allegedly versed in breaching Automated Teller Machines were arraigned yesterday on a 22-count charge at the FCT High Court, Gudu, Abuja, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The accused, who revealed the tactics they used to employ in making good money from ATMs, included Mavwen Jefe, 25, leader of the group and a 100 Level Economics student of the University of Abuja; Omomoh Paul; Ogidi Ufuoma; Okuku Ogheneovo; Ejikeme Kingsley Chukwuma; Lawal Olalekan; Ovuakporaye Ejovwoke; Odurukwe Nelson Tochukwu and Churchill Jefe.

According to part of the charge, the accused persons and others at large, on or about September 28, 2009, within the judicial division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, did dishonestly withdraw the sum of N464,500 from the account of one Apeh Samuel at Guaranty Trust Bank without his consent, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 287 of the Penal Code Cap 532 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

Also on or about October 9, 2009, the suspects allegedly withdrew another sum of N210,000 from the account of one Oladipo Adekunle Emmanuel at Guaranty Trust Bank without his consent.

On December 12, 2009, the suspects withdrew another N270, 000 from the same account. They also withdrew the sum of N156, 000 on October 12, 2009, from the account of one Musa Danjuma Mohammed at Guaranty Trust Bank without his consent.After listening to the charge, however, the accused pleaded not guilty.

Prosecution counsel Joshua Saidi prayed the court for accelerated hearing, saying the case was very sensitive to the nation.

He also told the court that it would be in the interest of justice for the defence counsel to file their motion for bail application jointly with different a affidavit instead of the piecemeal approach which they were already adopting.

Justice Talba agreed with the prosecution and adjourned the motion for bail to Wednesday, December 16, 2009. But counsel to the eight accused, K.V. Egbufor, presenting a medical report, pleaded with the judge to allow her client to be detained at the EFCC custody instead of going to Kuje Prison because he suffers from a kidney-related ailment.

The judge promised to write to the authorities of the prison to keep them abreast of the suspect’s medical history. He also fixed March 29, 2010 for trial.

The suspects, who allegedly specialised in cloning ATM cards which they used to illegally make cash withdrawals from victims' accounts, were apprehended by men of the Department of State Services at Nordy Meridian Hotel, along Utako district in Abuja and handed over to the EFCC.

The arrest, which was facilitated through a tip-off, caught the scammers unawares. Mavwen Jefe, who is the ring leader, allegedly confessed to the EFCC that he was involved in the scam. He reportedly said a friend of his who is a computer programmer introduced him to the business and sold the card writer with which they cloned the ATM cards to him at the rate of N400,000.

“I have a friend by name Ogene Oru who introduced me to this business. We used to repair handsets and computer laptops together in Warri. At first I didn't know it could work until one day when he got someone's ATM card details and brought it to the hotel room where we were staying in Warri.

“He input the card details on the laptop, then sent it to the card reader and swiped the card in it. The details automatically went on the card and we went to a nearby ATM machine, where we cashed about sixty thousand naira. So when I saw it worked I asked him to get me one. After securing a card reader and laptop, I moved to Abuja where I and my elder brother started the business.”

Mavwen further revealed to EFCC operatives that their victims were usually trailed at ATM machine points. He said they used to go around town looking for crowded ATM locations where they could not be easily noticed. They would join the queues and pretend to be waiting to make withdrawals. He said in the process they would spy on a victim's PIN number as he was inputting it on the system, the details of which they would take back to their hotel room where the cards would be cloned.

“What we do is follow people at the ATM machine, sometimes if they have problems using the ATM machines or when the network is bad, we pretend as if we want to help, collect their cards and quickly memorise the card details. When they are pressing in their pin numbers, we also take note. Most times we queue up with the crowd, pretending to be waiting to withdraw cash.

“From there we try to peep to see what numbers the ATM user inputs, and because we have crammed all the numbers and their positions, it is very easy for us to quickly memorise it. I don't go to the ATM machines often, but send my brother Churchill, who comes back to give me the details. I have an ATM card with UBA bank that I usually use. It doesn't matter if we use the card over and over again, once we get the details on the laptop and transfer to the card reader, automatically the new details will replace the old one on the card,” Mavwen said.

He added that he had made up to N3.3 million from the caper. Part of the money, he said, was invested in a micro finance bank and he used the remaining for his upkeep.

Another member of the syndicate is Omomoh Paul, a 26-year-old graduate of Mechanical Engineering from the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi. A close friend to Mavwen, he said he joined the group upon an invitation from Mavwen.

The third suspect, Churchill Jefe, 28, who is a brother to the ring leader, said he is also a student of the University of Abuja, where he is in his second year, studying Political Science.

Churchill said his brother introduced him to the caper, which made him quit his job of supplying construction materials to estate developers. He said he has made N800,000 from the deal since he joined.

“I am usually the one that goes to the various ATM machines to get the details. I would spy on the card details and immediately stored it on my phone, which I then forwarded to my younger brother in the hotel. When I got back, we sat down and cloned the cards together and the next day, we would set out for withdrawals.”

After the arrest, a search was conducted in their hotel apartment and items used in perpetrating their acts were recovered.

The items included two computer laptops, bank documents, GSM telephones, eight ATM cards, a cash of N136, 935, two cars and an ATM card cloning machine.



http://www.leadershipnigeria.com/index.php/news/cover-stories/9703-9-youths-reveal-atm-fraud-tactics

Sophistication in stealing.

Oboma1:

Sophistication in stealing.

Why are people heartless? This is another set of Ibo and perhaps Edo/Delta boys, trying to make cheap money from people's sweat. They should be slaughtered if I have my way.

selingel:

This is another set of Ibo and perhaps Edo/Delta boys,

this was really fast, i was waiting when it would turn to a tribal bashing thread,

as u can see no Yoruba names was mentioned Lawal Olalekan

most times we are so fast to categorize people into tribes& races that we forget to look into the real problem. the real issue here is a failure of the state, a lot of intelligent youths are roaming the streets unemployed and hungry. they are looking for means to feed. provide jobs and food most crimes would stop.

Its can never be possible to clone a card with the 16 digit card number. You can only clone a card with the track one and track two number which is not visible. The algorithm for the tracks can only be read by the machine, the ATM machine gat nothing to do with the 16 digit number on the face of the card. Is the card system in Nigeria diff from other countries?

That Ibo abi Edo/Delta guy Lawal Olalekan is a crook.

olabukola:

Its can never be possible to clone a card with the 16 digit card number. You can only clone a card with the track one and track two number which is not visible. The algorithm for the tracks can only be read by the machine, the ATM machine gat nothing to do with the 16 digit number on the face of the card. Is the card system in Nigeria diff from other countries?

it is not a function of cloning card it is a function of Nigerian police beating u to pulp and u confess the impossible, yes i did it and invent methods in ur head u would have used to commit the crime so as to stop the beatings

These Guys are extra talented. But from a negative perspective.

You Seeeeee,
I said it, Soon Bank Fraud Yorubas will introduce their Fraud idea to other Tribe.

Haba!, why sound tribalistic?. If someone says one should put his hands in the fire, will he oblige?.

Na wa oh.
How come no one is going after the coys that made those machines?

selingel:

Haba!, why sound tribalistic?. If someone says one should put his hands in the fire, will he oblige?.

I'm not sounding tribalistic,
It's easy for Yorubaman to deceive someone when it comes to anything Bank Fraud. These people has invented a sophisticated machine they call GRABBER, with this machine a Yorubaman can withdraw all your bank deposit.

WilyWily:

I'm not sounding tribalistic,
It's easy for Yorubaman to deceive someone when it comes to anything Bank Fraud. These people has invented a sophisticated machine they call GRABBER, with this machine a Yorubaman can withdraw all your bank deposit.

I guess u are a Yoruba man to have known enuf about the fraud . . . . .ol boy, fraud no pay oh, get a real job

Fhemmmy:

I guess u are a Yoruba man to have known enuf about the fraud . . . . .ol boy, fraud no pay oh, get a real job

A Yoruba Guy told me,
Fhemmmy don't hide you knew it's real.

WilyWily:

A Yoruba Guy told me,
Fhemmmy don't hide you knew it's real.

What is there to hide, a Yoruba guy told you, and i guess that made you a good student, learnt well, but bros, leave those kinda ways, they are not rewarding.
The tears of those that you have stolen from will have to punish you oh.
Get a career and a good job.

Fhemmmy:

What is there to hide, a Yoruba guy told you, and i guess that made you a good student, learnt well, but bros, leave those kinda ways, they are not rewarding.
The tears of those that you have stolen from will have to punish you oh.
Get a career and a good job.

I always tell people, if they do not fear the law, they should atleast fear GOD and people's sweat. Let them get a good job and struggle as others do!.

hahahaaaaa,
Fhemmmy am sorry i will keep exposing any Fraudulent life of the Yorubas.

WilyWily:

hahahaaaaa,
Fhemmmy am sorry i will keep exposing any Fraudulent life of the Yorubas.

It is not all about tribe, but all about exposing crime my brother. Please continue to expose them!.

selingel:

It is not all about tribe, but all about exposing crime my brother. Please continue to expose them!.

I know is not all about tribe, but i want to name and Shame them, Yorubas are the mighty architect of Fraud in Nigeria.

Churchill said his brother introduced him to the caper, which made him quit his job of supplying construction materials to estate developers. He said he has made N800,000 from the deal since he joined.

what a waste of prospects.

WilyWily:

I'm not sounding tribalistic,
It's easy for Yorubaman to deceive someone when it comes to anything Bank Fraud. These people has invented a sophisticated machine they call GRABBER, with this machine a Yorubaman can withdraw all your bank deposit.

explain this grabber concept since you're obviously in the thick and thin of Yoruba criminality.

WilyWily:

I know is not all about tribe, but i want to name and Shame them, Yorubas are the mighty architect of Fraud in Nigeria.

I really wonder what they always intend to get out of it. This is killing the image of this nation. Why not use that same skill positively.

selingel:

I really wonder what they always intend to get out of it. This is killing the image of this nation. Why not use that same skill positively.

Fraud is inside their DNA, they will never leave it.

WilyWily:

Fraud is inside their DNA, they will never leave it.

If Obafemi Awolowo catches you, you will remember the day you were born. How can you say that of a tribe?

WillyWilly . . . . with all the grabber that you have grabbed, u still cant afford 2 meals in a day, why dont you stop all the ATM crime and get a real job . . . cos u must know enuf about it, to be telling people about it.

Fhemmmy:

WillyWilly . . . . with all the grabber that you have grabbed, u still cant afford 2 meals in a day, why dont you stop all the ATM crime and get a real job . . . cos u must know enuf about it, to be telling people about it.

These guys will die one day, if they will not stop swindling people.

Fhemmmy i'm sorry, but will keep exposing any Yoruba Fraudulent way of life. My vetting on your people will never end. Nigerians are tired of Corrupt mentality of Yorubaman. Your people had emptied the Coffers of this Country before, it's good to prevent it from happening again.

My Guy, did any Yoruba person offend you?.

selingel:



These guys will die one day, if they will not stop swindling people.

I pray so too.

WilyWily:

Fhemmmy i'm sorry, but will keep exposing any Yoruba Fraudulent way of life. My vetting on your people will never end. Nigerians are tired of Corrupt mentality of Yorubaman. Your people had emptied the Coffers of this Country before, it's good to prevent it from happening again.

I want all fraudster exposed, regardless of his tribe.
People like u shd never get to power, cos you will develop one and abandoned the other.

Fhemmmy:

I pray so too.
I want all fraudster exposed, regardless of his tribe.
People like u shd never get to power, cos you will develop one and abandoned the other.

selingel:

That is the truth, and i hope our law will get tougher at them all

Bros, you harsh oh!.

selingel:

Bros, you harsh oh!.

It is not being harsh, it is saying it the way it is