Police Arrest Notorious Fake Bank Alert Fraudster

A 50-year-old man accused of using fake bank alerts to purchase goods from traders in Kano has been arrested.

Aminu Abdullahi, a resident of Kofar Nassarawa Quarters, Kano, was arrested after he used a fake bank alert to purchase two cartons of spaghetti valued at N35,000 from a trader in Gwale area of Kano.

The fraudster was also exploiting his close resemblance to popular Kano cleric, Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Usman Gadon Kaya, to dupe traders, according to Kano Police Command spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa.

Revealing how the notorious fake bank alert fraudster was busted, Kiyawa said, “On November 22, 2024, police received a report from one Sunusi Aminu, of Gwale Quarters Kano, that on the same date, one Aminu went to his Shop, presented himself as a younger brother to Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Usman Gadon Kaya, collected two cartons of spaghetti valued N35,000:00 and maneuvered a fake alert on his phone.

“Having presented himself as a brother to the revered Sheikh, the shop owner allowed Aminu to go without seeing the transaction alert.

“However, after the suspect left, shop owner checked his account balance, there was no such transaction.

”On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Salman Dogo Garba raised and instructed a team led by SP Abdulrahim Adamu, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Gwale Division to launch an investigation.

”The team immediately swung into action and arrested the suspect.

”On preliminary investigation, the suspect confessed that he is neither a brother nor a relative to Sheikh Dr. Abdallah Gadon Kaya, and agreed to have maneuver the fake alert.''

Aminu confessed to having used the same dubious formula to have stolen from them, having heard from various shops, since he has a striking resemblance with the popular Islamic cleric.

He confessed to have fraudulently collected goods worth over N2 million.

Kiyawa further revealed that after Aminu’s arrest, a total of 20 Complainants have lodged complaints against him, which he confessed to have deceived, defrauded, and went away with their valuables.

The Commissioner of Police directed that the case be transferred to the Command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for discreet investigation.

“Whoever recognizes the person and has a complaint about him can come to the Kano State Police Command Headquarters through the Office of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), or contact the investigation team through 08166999948.,” Kiyawa added.

The suspect will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.