Asalam Alaekum, A new scheme whereby armed criminal gangs waylay unsuspecting persons either by pretending to be car jack syndicates or kidnappers is currently in place around major cities of Nigeria. Modus Operandi: A group of young criminals numbering three and above, and mostly driving in a car accosts their victims by blocking their cars and taking them hostage. They will either put you in their car ,stay with you in your car or put you in the boot of their car where they will collect your ATM Card and pin numbers among other valuables on gun point They will drive you straight to an ATM point and park about 100meters away while one of them will walk to the ATM point and make withdrawals with your ATM card. If you have more money in your ATM account, above the withdrawal limit for a day, you might be held captive (kidnapped), until the robbers successfully empty your account. Note that these gangs can also accost you while claiming to be Police officers in plain clothe and force you into their car. HOW TO AVOID BEING A VICTIM. Note that this crime trend is driven by quest to get quick cash and if the criminals notice that you have no ATM card with you, they might hurriedly let you go. In view of this, you are advised to adopt the following behavior . · Carry your ATM card with you on need basis alone. · If you must carry ATM Card all the time, carry only the cards of Banks where you have less amount of money. Just the amount of money that you may be willing to lose, and not more than the withdrawal limit for a day. · Have at least two bank accounts, with ATM access to only one of them. Fund should be transferred online from the “fatter”/”larger” account to the ATM account only as required. The ATM account should not be your salary/business account. · Delete all bank alerts from your phone, as soon as soon as you read them. · If driving, keep valuables in your car booth, away from public view. However, keep a “little amount” of money on your person or within the vehicle, a sum which you may be willing to part with. This might help dissuade a robber from prying further for more valuables in your vehicle. · Unless a gun is pointed at you, do not fully wind down your window for the “police”, “Lastma” or other law enforcement agents. Wind down a little, just to allow your vehicle particulars through the window. They may not be genuine officers, and can take undue advantage of you. Even officers take undue advantage from time to time! · Avoid keeping your vehicle windows down, when in traffic. Ensure that your air-conditioning system is in good working condition always. This could save you from the petty robbers. · If you are a victim ,don’t play a hero, give full cooperation especially if they are armed. · Avoid lonely areas/roads as much as possible as these areas are trigger points. · When your car is hit from behind in less busy road, please don’t stop to argue but pretend until you get to a busy place where you can be sure it will be difficult for any meaningful crime to take place. Your judgment counts. Remain security conscious and be alert at this period especially, and thereafter
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 13:05:18 +0000
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