A yet-to-be-identified man has allegedly been caught attempting to deceive a Point-of-Sale (POS) operator by offering wrapped, damaged car tyres in exchange for cash.
In a video making the rounds on social media and seen by THE WHISTLER, the man approached the POS operator and reportedly claimed he needed cash urgently.
According to the account accompanying the video, the man initially pretended to make a withdrawal at the POS stand.
He allegedly later claimed that the transfer had not gone through and offered to leave the tyres, which had been wrapped in nylon, with the operator in exchange for cash.
The man reportedly presented the tyres as new while insisting that he was in a hurry and needed the money.
“Man caught after packaging old, damaged car tyres in nylon and attempting to use them to collect money from a POS operator.
“According to the report, he came to the POS joint pretending to withdraw money. After claiming that the transfer did not go through, he allegedly asked the POS operator to keep the “new” tyres and give him cash, claiming he was rushing somewhere. It was during the negotiation that other neighbours reportedly caught him,” according to a social media post.
The alleged attempt reportedly raised suspicion, prompting people in the area to intervene.
The video showed the man being confronted by people who gathered around the POS stand as they questioned him over the alleged attempt to exchange the old tyres for cash.
The incident has since drawn reactions online, with some users condemning the alleged scam and others linking such incidents to economic hardship.
Reacting to the video, X user @Kingkosec wrote: “Evil will never stop existing in Nigeria as long as the law system isn’t working.”
Another user, @gstan86, recounted a personal experience involving tyres, saying, “The experience is terrible. I once bought so called new tire. But it didn’t last up to 4 months for a private car within. We need regulations.”
@Mr_Shuffler warned motorists against buying supposedly new tyres from strangers at unusually cheap prices.
“ADVISE: If you are in Zuba mechanic or Spareparts and a random guy works up to you with brand new tyres, recent DoM, far ED, clean trends and teeth’s and offer to sell them at discounted price. Pls don’t buy,” the user wrote.
For @Seniordebo, the alleged incident showed a lack of consideration for others.
“No fear of God in this country. How can you do this to your fellow human being?” the user said.
Similarly, @Chukwuebukaolu2 wrote: “Nigerians are creative when they’re trying to commit crime.”
However, @protagonistd1st attributed the alleged incident partly to the country’s economic conditions, arguing that worsening hardship could contribute to scam attempts.
“If the country was good, do you think he will do this?” the user asked, adding that instead of assaulting suspects, Nigerians should hold government accountable and demand better governance and prosecution of offenders.
But @OmoBishi0001A, responding to the comment, rejected the argument that hardship should be used to excuse the alleged act.
“Oga, he is not disable. If he goes to construction sites, maybe to help do pilling, they get paid daily. We can’t keep making excuses,” the user said.
@ObodoPaul21948, however, urged Nigerians not to be quick to condemn people caught in difficult circumstances.
“Omo life hard for this country Nigeria any situation u find someone please don’t blame him,” the user wrote.
@Prince4ye called for severe punishment for people involved in such acts.
“People like this should be jailed for life and never allowed to see the sun again,” the user said.
The identity of the man and the POS operator could not be independently established from the video as of the time of filing this report.
