The Rivers State Police Command has warned against the growing trend of women collecting transport fare from men for dates without showing up, describing the act as fraudulent and punishable under Nigerian law.
Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, issued the warning in a viral video shared on X on Wednesday. She stressed that the act amounts to “obtaining money under false pretence”, popularly known as 419.
“Why will you collect money from a man without going to see him? It is an offence, a punishable offence. It is obtaining money under false pretence — 419,” she stated.
Iringe-Koko explained that such behaviour falls under the category of financial deceit, and offenders risk arrest and prosecution once a formal complaint is filed by the victim.
She urged members of the public to uphold honesty and integrity in their dealings and avoid practices that could lead to legal consequences.
The warning comes amid growing social media debates over money-related disputes in dating relationships, with the police emphasizing that consent and transparency are key to avoiding conflict and crime.
