A gadget vendor in Ikeja, Lagos, has sounded the alarm after falling victim to a fraudulent transaction involving a man who posed as a fellow vendor.
The suspect allegedly disappeared with an iPhone 13 Pro and ₦600,000 during what was meant to be a standard phone swap deal.
According to the report shared on social media, the incident began when the suspect arrived at the vendor’s shop with a lady. He claimed the woman wanted to swap her iPhone 13 Pro for an iPhone 14 Pro Max, which was unlocked for eSIM. After confirming the new device and agreeing to pay a ₦600,000 balance, the suspect initiated the phone file transfer between the two devices.
Following the completion of the transfer, the suspect initially said he was stepping out to a nearby bank to make the balance payment.
Moments later, he changed his mind and said he would use a POS agent instead.Due to time constraints — as it was nearly 5 PM and the eSIM activation vendor was about to close — the main vendor remained behind to supervise the activation process.
The suspect offered to complete the transfer at the POS, assuring the vendor it would only take a few minutes.That was the last time he was seen.
The man allegedly vanished with the lady’s iPhone 13 Pro and the ₦600,000 cash, leaving the vendor in a difficult situation. The woman who had accompanied the man later accused the vendor of collusion, claiming he was part of the scam.
In response, the vendor publicly denied any involvement and issued a social media appeal, urging the public to help identify and report the suspect if seen.He also advised fellow vendors to be cautious when handling gadget swaps or deals involving multiple parties, especially those who appear unfamiliar or evasive.
As of the time of this report, the suspect remains at large, and the matter is reportedly being followed up by local authorities.
