The Police Command in Kwara State on Monday said criminals are now disguising themselves as point of sales (POS) agents to rob and collect kidnap ransom.

The state Commissioner of Police, Victor Olaiya, disclosed this during a visit by the Kwara Association of Professional Point of Sales Agents, (KAPPSA), and the Information Technology Professional Association (ITPA).

ITPA is a body of artisans who are into computer repairs and dealings in the state.

The criminal elements now hibernate within the ranks of POS agents, adding that the police now have a useful partner in the fight against criminality that involves money transfers with the visit of the operators.

“Kidnap ransom is paid through POS in some cases and we have cases where robbers now go to homes with POS machines.

“But with an association capturing legitimate operators in the state, it makes it easy to track criminality,” the CP said.

Represented by the DCP Operations, Adekimi Ojo, the CP advised POS operators, especially not to “Make it a habit to transfer money beyond certain thresholds.

“When you do, make sure the customer leaves with you a means of traceable identification like their NIN number”, he said.

Speaking during the visit, Mr Ridwan Ayinde Opakunle, president of both KAPPSA and ITPA in Kwara State, requested police assistance in curbing the activities of fraudsters who are using their businesses to defraud unsuspecting victims.

“Cyber criminals and money transaction crooks have grown more sophisticated, which requires that ITPA and KAPSSA task force units are better trained to help protect their members.

“We are reliably informed that fraudsters posing as POS operators now carry pre-configured machines that automatically download financial data and key codes of victims that help them empty accounts,” Opakunle said.