The Rivers State Police Command has cautioned against the growing practice of women collecting transport fare from men and failing to honour agreed meetings, warning that the act constitutes a criminal offence.

In a viral video posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, the Command’s spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, described the trend as fraudulent and punishable under Nigerian law.

“Why will you collect money from a man without going to see him? It is an offence, a punishable offence,” Iringe-Koko said. “It is obtaining money under false pretence 419.”

She explained that such conduct falls under the criminal category of obtaining by false pretence, adding that offenders risk arrest and prosecution once formal complaints are lodged with the police.

The police spokesperson also urged the public to avoid engaging in deceitful financial dealings, stressing that the Command would not hesitate to act on verified reports of fraud.

The warning has generated mixed reactions online, with many users debating the social and legal dimensions of the practice, which has become a subject of concern in several Nigerian cities.