A Nigerian man has been apprehended at the bustling Alaba International Market in Lagos for allegedly attempting to defraud a POS agent of the sum of ₦750,000 through a fake transfer scheme. Eyewitnesses report that the suspect tried to convince the agent that the money had been successfully sent, even though no actual funds were transferred into the account.
According to market traders, the incident unfolded in the afternoon when the suspect approached a POS stand to carry out the transaction. After generating what appeared to be a proof-of-payment alert, the agent quickly became suspicious when the transfer failed to reflect in their account. The agent immediately raised an alarm, attracting the attention of nearby shop owners and other traders who moved swiftly to prevent the man from escaping.
The incident was captured on video and shared on TikTok, where it quickly began circulating among social media users. In the footage, the suspect can be seen surrounded and escorted by several individuals, with some holding onto him tightly to ensure he did not flee. The recording also captured a voice in the background — presumably one of the onlookers — stating, “We’ve caught one criminal trying to do fake transfer of ₦750,000.”
This arrest highlights a growing concern in Nigerian markets and business districts over the rising number of fake bank alerts and fraudulent transfers targeting small business owners and POS operators. Market associations have in the past warned traders to confirm every transaction before releasing goods or cash, as such scams have cost businesses significant losses.
The Alaba International Market, known as one of the largest electronics and trade hubs in West Africa, has long dealt with issues of theft and fraud due to its heavy daily foot traffic. Traders often work together to apprehend suspects when crimes are spotted, as in this case, where community vigilance played a key role in detaining the accused until further action could be taken.
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@alabablogger [/p]
Them wan collect my phone but them know me 😂 #alabainternationalmarket #fyp #brainjotter #rema #viral @official gheghe #fypシ
♬ original sound – Emenaha Stephen Ifeanyi