Refund money to same source to avoid being used for crime – Police

The Police Command in Lagos State has urged members of the public to always return money to the same source to avoid being used for crime.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said this on his verified Twitter handle @benHundeyin on Saturday, while responding to a Twitter user’s allegation.

A man with the handle @LordDeleke called the attention of the police accusing its officers from Area F Ikeja of arresting his brother on Friday, forcing him to transfer N460,000 for a crime he did not commit.

He appealed to the police to help him follow up on the case.

Hundeyin said that after investigation, it was discovered that @LordDeleke’s claim was misleading.

He said, “Your tweet is misleading. Your brother received money from John Doe to sell a phone.

“John Doe changed his mind, and your brother transferred the money back, but this time not to John Doe but to a different person.

“John Doe reported the ‘scam," and your brother quickly paid John Doe back.

“The question is, why did your brother receive money from A and give it to B?” he asked.

According to Hundeyin, many have innocently received ransom this way and given it to others.

“When the police trace the account the ransom was paid into, stories that they wanted to buy a phone but changed their mind won’t stand.

“Ignorance is not an excuse. I have advised your brother to put up a complaint against the first person he sent money to, if truly he is not in cahoots with him,” he said.

He warned the publicto always tread carefully and refund monies in dispute to the same source and not elsewhere to avoid being unwittingly used for crimes such as money laundering and kidnapping.