The Pacific Journal of Science and Technology –356– http://www.akamaiuniversity.us/PJST.htm Volume 11. Number 1. May 2010 (Spring) Framework for Computer Aided Investigation of ATM Fraud in Nigeria. Azeez Nureni Ayofe, M.Sc. 1* ; Azeez Raheem Ajetola, M.Sc. *1 ; Sulaimon Bashir Adebayo, M.Sc. 2 ; and Funsho Abdulwahab Atanda, M.Sc. 3 1 Department of Math and Computer Science, College of Natural and Applied Sicences, Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria. 2 The Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, Nigeria. 3 Department of Computer Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. * E-mail: nurayhn@yahoo.ca ajeazeez@yahoo.com bashirsulaimon2003@yahoo.co.uk abdulwahabfu@yahoo.co.uk ABSTRACT The conventional approach for the criminal investigation and trial of cases in courts of law in developing countries like Nigeria is usually slow and unreliable. Consequently, the socio-legal interaction is characterized by prolonged periods of detention of the suspects awaiting trial and congestion in the prisons and courts. This paper attempts to describe the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the investigation of automatic teller machine (ATM) fraud in Nigeria. An expert system (ES) is proposed which provides and supports the storage and intelligent interactive processing of the knowledge acquired by and experience of the human expert in the domain of criminal investigation, law and justice. One of the objectives of the study is to provide an intelligent computer-based system which will smooth, enhance, and speed the efficient and reliable performance of the human expert in the domain of criminal investigation of ATM fraud in Nigeria. A second objective is to provide a system for computer aided learning of criminal investigation. (Keywords: automatic teller machine, ATM fraud, framework, user culprit, bank, ATM clone, crime, criminal investigation, expert system) INTRODUCTION It is hard to take the entire suite of banks' e- business services and decide on the most useful aspects. Internet banking for instance, takes the word "convenience" several notches beyond the traditional Nigerian bank customer's wildest imaginations. It is, however, so infrastructure dependent at the customer ends (PCs, internet service providers, electricity, etc.) as to be of limited utility in an economy such as ours. But the debit card is something else. Along with the now ubiquitous Automated Teller Machines (ATM), it is like walking around with your favorite bank branch in your breast pocket. There is however, a new cost to running ATM machines in the country, which while not a peculiarly Nigerian concern, is increasingly taking on a distinct local flavor. This is the cost to the banks of ballooning ATM fraud. The immediate worry is reputational, and so most banks started by paying out for fraud perpetrated through their customers' debit cards. As the levels of fraud kept, the initiative shifted: caps were placed on the maximum amount one can withdraw in a single transaction and the numbers of permissible transactions in a given day were limited. Limits are also being enforced on the size of purchases via point-of-sales terminals; and a media advert blitz has helped transfer responsibility to the customer for securing the integrity of each card. If the banks are to be believed, the duty of care arising from a consumer’s access to, and use of a debit card is akin to that traditionally associated with the use of a check. Banks being thereby absolved of all responsibility to make good any loss arising from the negligent handling of a checkbook, in such a way that it falls to the use of a third party intent on illegally withdrawing from the customer's account.