The Police in Nigeria have recommended Citizens to lock their Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards.
Once a syndicate was arrested, Benjamin Hundeyin, a public relations officer in Lagos, tweeted the advise.
The representative disclosed that the syndicate’s members choose phones and throw them away after removing the SIM cards.
They purchase airtime using bank USSD, which typically does not require a PIN, using the stolen SIM cards.
Hundeyin said the criminals proceed to empty their victim’s account one way or the other after gaining access.
“The only SIM cards the syndicate never succeeded with were ones with SIM lock. Activate your SIM lock today,” he urged.
There’s a sharp increase in unauthorised transfers and bills payments causing banks to issue reminders to customers on how to safeguard their accounts.