Woman detained after fraudster disappears with ₦580,000 iPhone in Kaduna

A young woman was briefly detained by police after a suspected fraudster allegedly used her presence to steal an iPhone valued at ₦580,000 from a phone shop in Kaduna State before fleeing.

According to an account shared by the Vice Chairman of the Phone and Allied Products Vendors Association (PLAVA), Kaduna State, Comrade Danhabu, the incident occurred at a phone market after the woman visited the area to purchase a mobile phone.

He said the woman had recently met a man who claimed to be a phone dealer, and the two had been communicating online. When she informed him that she wanted to buy a phone, he invited her to the market.

On arrival, the suspect reportedly escorted her to a phone shop where an iPhone 13 Pro Max was presented for inspection. He allegedly told the traders he wanted to show the device to a colleague for advice before making payment.

The suspect then left with the phone and never returned.

After repeated attempts to reach him failed, traders reportedly discovered that the phone number he had been using was switched off and was registered in a woman’s name.

The traders initially confronted the young woman, believing she might have been involved, before the matter was reported to the police for investigation.

According to Danhabu, the woman insisted she barely knew the suspect, explaining that they had only recently met and that she did not know his residence or true identity.

He said the association later allowed her to contact her family before she was taken to the police station to assist with investigations.

Danhabu noted that the incident was the fourth case of its kind recorded by the association, warning that fraudsters increasingly exploit unsuspecting young women to gain the confidence of phone dealers.

He urged traders to avoid releasing phones or other valuables to prospective buyers without adequate guarantees, while advising parents to closely monitor their children and educate them about the risks of interacting with strangers online.

Police have yet to issue an official statement on the incident.