By Deborah Nnamdi
The Edo State Police Command has apprehended a 31-year-old woman, Freda Omakhone, over allegations of defrauding several luxury boutiques across the state.
In a statement released in Benin City on Sunday, the Command’s spokesperson, Moses Yamu, revealed that the suspect was involved in multiple scam cases targeting high-end stores.
According to Yamu, Omakhone’s method involved making purchases worth hundreds of thousands of naira and sending doctored bank transfer receipts—altered to reflect false amounts and business names—via WhatsApp to deceive store owners.
A variety of stolen items were recovered from the suspect, including luxury wigs, electronics, kitchenware, designer clothing, and cosmetics. Some of the rightful owners have since identified and reclaimed their goods.
The suspect has reportedly confessed and will soon face prosecution in court.
Meanwhile, the Police Command advised business operators to remain vigilant and to always verify payment confirmations before releasing goods to customers.
