The Bauchi State Police Command has advised traders, foreign exchange dealers and members of the public to remain vigilant against fraudsters allegedly using counterfeit US dollars to defraud unsuspecting victims.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Nafiu Habib, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that two suspects had been arrested within the week in connection with alleged counterfeit-dollar fraud. One of the suspects reportedly travelled from Lagos and allegedly defrauded a man of more than ₦4 million before assaulting him.
Habib said similar incidents had occurred in Bauchi in the past, but security agencies had driven the perpetrators away. He warned that the criminals had now returned to the state.
The police urged residents to be wary of unusually cheap offers, noting that the desire to obtain goods or foreign currency at reduced prices could lead people into unsafe and unauthorised locations where fraudsters operate.
The command advised residents to conduct foreign exchange transactions only through commercial banks and licensed Bureau de Change operators. Using approved financial institutions, it said, remains the safest way to avoid counterfeit currency scams and related criminal activities.
