Man arrested for ‘fake alert’ fraud in Kano
The Kano State Police have arrested 50-year-old Aminu Abdullahi for fraud.
The suspect, known for generating fake bank transfers (commonly referred to as “fake alerts”), allegedly exploited his resemblance to renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Usman Gadon Kaya to fraudulently obtain goods worth over ₦2 million from traders.
The spokesperson for the command, ASP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, confirmed the arrest, stating:
“On November 22, 2024, at approximately 6 p.m., a report was received from Sunusi Aminu, a male resident of Gwale Quarters, Kano. He informed us that at around 5 p.m. on the same day, a man named Aminu came to his shop, claiming to be the younger brother of Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Usman Gadon Kaya. The suspect then took two cartons of spaghetti, worth ₦35,000, and manipulated a fake alert on his phone.
Having presented himself as a relative of the respected Sheikh, the shopkeeper allowed him to leave without verifying the transaction alert. It was only after the suspect left that the shopkeeper checked his account balance and realized no transaction had been made.”
“Upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police for Kano State, CP Salman Dogo Garba, immediately raised a team led by SP Abdulrahim Adamu, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Gwale Division, to investigate the matter. The team quickly took action and apprehended the suspect, later identified as Aminu Abdullahi, a 50-year-old male from Kofar Nassarawa Quarters, Kano.
During the preliminary investigation, the suspect admitted that he was neither a relative nor a brother of Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Usman Gadon Kaya and confessed to manipulating fake transaction alerts. He revealed that, after hearing people say he resembled the Sheikh, he exploited this similarity to deceive various shop owners into handing over goods worth over two million Naira. As of now, a total of 20 complainants have come forward, all of whom he confessed to deceiving and defrauding.
The Commissioner of Police has directed that the case be transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for further detailed investigation. Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has a complaint about him is encouraged to visit the Kano State Police Command Headquarters or reach out to the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO). Additionally, they can contact the investigation team at 08166999948. The suspect will be charged in court once the investigation is complete.
The Commissioner of Police also expressed gratitude to the people of Kano State for their prayers, support, and cooperation. He urged residents to remain cautious of impostors, fraudsters, and scammers, and to report any suspicious transactions. For emergencies or to report suspicious individuals or items, the Kano State Police Command can be reached at the following numbers: 08032419754, 08123821575, and 09029292926.”
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.
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