The police command in Akwa Ibom says it has arrested a suspected cyber criminal involved in fraudulent SIM card registration in the state.

The command public relations officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Saturday.

Mr John urged members of the public to register their SIM cards at authorised and legitimate outlets to avoid falling victim to criminals.

She said the suspect, residing at No. 34 Oron Road, Uyo, was arrested on July 23 along Nung Udoe in the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of the State.

The police spokesperson said the arrest followed a discreet investigation into a new, emerging crime trend involving fraudulent SIM card registration.

“The suspect was apprehended after intelligence revealed an unidentified man parading in various locations, posing as a mobile SIM card registration agent.

“He would capture the faces and details of unsuspecting members of the public who come to register new SIM cards.

“However, after collecting their information, he would claim network issues and instruct them to return the following day. When victims return, he would often have changed his location, raising suspicions.

“Upon being apprehended, the suspect admitted to using the National Identification Numbers (NIN) of innocent persons to register new SIM cards, which he then sold to fraudsters and other individuals involved in nefarious activities for substantial sums of money,” Mr John said.

Mr John listed exhibits recovered from the suspect, including a data capturing device, three mobile phones, twenty used SIM cards, various filled forms, a small bag and N10,000.

She urged members of the public to check their National Identification Numbers (NIN) to ascertain if any unknown phone numbers are linked to their identity.

Mr John also urged members of the public to be vigilant within their environments and report any suspicious activity or instances of fraudulent SIM card registration to the police for prompt action.

The PPRO said security agencies were intensifying efforts to track down individuals who purchased the fraudulently registered SIM cards from the suspect.

She commended members of the public for their continued cooperation and encouraged everyone to remain alert to the new criminal tactics.

(NAN)