by Lovely Onohwakpor
Mob Beats Alleged POS Fraudster Over ATM Card Swapping at Ring Road, Benin City
An alleged Point of Sale (POS) fraudster was on Tuesday morning beaten by an irate mob at the Ring Road axis of Benin City, Edo State, after he was accused of defrauding customers through ATM card swapping.
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Eyewitnesses told reporters that the suspect, who operated a roadside POS stand, allegedly specialized in exchanging customers’ ATM cards during transactions and later withdrawing funds from their bank accounts without their consent. Residents claimed the fraudulent activity had been ongoing for some time before it was uncovered.
Trouble reportedly started when a female customer noticed that the ATM card returned to her after a transaction did not belong to her. Her alarm attracted the attention of bystanders, who insisted on checking the suspect’s belongings.
Further inspection allegedly revealed several ATM cards belonging to different individuals, a development that confirmed suspicions of fraud and triggered outrage among those present. Within minutes, the situation escalated as the crowd descended on the suspect, subjecting him to severe physical assault.
The suspect reportedly collapsed after the attack, while items recovered at the scene included multiple ATM cards, a POS machine, and a bag believed to contain transaction materials. The incident caused panic in the area and led to traffic congestion as residents and passersby gathered around the scene.
As of the time of filing this report, it remained unclear whether the suspect survived the assault or was taken to a medical facility for treatment. Security operatives were later alerted and arrived at the scene to disperse the crowd and restore order.
The incident has renewed concerns over the rising cases of POS-related fraud in Benin City, particularly the increasing use of ATM card swapping by unscrupulous operators. Residents have called on security agencies, banks, and financial regulators to intensify monitoring of POS operators and improve public awareness.
Authorities have also cautioned the public against jungle justice, stressing that suspects should be handed over to law enforcement agencies for proper investigation and prosecution. Members of the public are advised to remain vigilant during POS transactions, verify their ATM cards immediately after use, shield their PINs, and promptly report any suspicious activity to the police.
