The Bauchi State Police Command has warned traders and foreign exchange dealers to be vigilant against fraudsters allegedly using counterfeit US dollars to defraud members of the public.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, issued the warning in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday.
He said the police had arrested two suspects within the week in connection with alleged counterfeit dollar-related fraud, including a man who travelled from Lagos to Bauchi.
“We have arrested two people suspected of being involved in this kind of fraud this week. One of them came from Lagos and allegedly defrauded a man of more than N4 million before assaulting him,” Habib said.
He said Bauchi had previously experienced similar cases involving people using counterfeit dollars to defraud unsuspecting victims, but security agencies succeeded in driving the perpetrators away.
“We had succeeded in driving them away in the past, but we have now noticed that they have returned to the state,” he said.
Habib warned members of the public against being lured by unusually cheap offers, saying the desire to obtain goods or foreign currency at a lower price could expose people to criminals operating outside approved locations.
“Sometimes, the desire to get something cheaply can lead people into trouble because they may go to places that are not approved by the government, particularly areas where fraudsters hide to deceive their victims,” he said.
The police spokesperson said foreign currency could legally be exchanged through authorised channels, including commercial banks and licensed Bureau de Change operators.
He urged residents to use approved financial institutions and licensed foreign exchange dealers when exchanging foreign currencies to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
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