Nigeria's anti-graft agency warns against fake WhatsApp recruitment

Nigeria's anti-corruption outfit, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC; has disowned a fake recruitment outfit using the WhatsApp platform to scam citizens.

A statement released Monday, March 1 by the outfit said the EFCC was not recruiting at the moment and that any adverts to that effect was the work of scammers.

"The public is hereby advised to be circumspect to avoid being ensnared by fraudsters.

"Employment into the EFCC is not an under-the-table affair, as such exercise is usually preceded by elaborate advertorial in the media and Commission’s social media platforms," the statement added.

A number of Nigerians on social media are expressing surprise at how anyone will attempt to use the name of the anti-corruption outfit to defraud fellow citizens.

The full statement is produced below:

EFCC Disowns Recruitment Group on WhatsApp

The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to the activities of a group on WhatsApp, dedicated to EFCC Recruitment 2020/2021.

The Commission wishes to dissociate itself from the activities of the Group, which is not known to the EFCC.

For the umpteenth time, the Commission reiterates earlier pronouncements that the agency is currently not recruiting. Any publication or advertorial to the contrary, in the social or mainstream media, can only be the handiwork of scammers.

The public is hereby advised to be circumspect to avoid being ensnared by fraudsters.

Employment into the EFCC is not an under-the-table affair, as such exercise is usually preceded by elaborate advertorial in the media and Commission’s social media platforms.

The public is also to treat with caution, fraud alert messages on WhatsApp, ascribed to the EFCC Help Desk Headquarters Jabi, Abuja.

Such messages are not from the EFCC as the Commission has no “Help Desk”.

Wilson Uwujaren

Head, Media & Publicity

1 March, 2021

People dey open WhatsApp for fake EFCC recruitment? Lol. Committing a financial crime using EFCC as disguise? People get liver sha. When it’s not like you will make like N20b to stay out of jail. https://t.co/a4MBvX31wU

— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) March 1, 2021

Naija people mad o! Impersonating Using Crime Commission to commit crime lol. If @officialEFCC dey do their “Economic” and “Financial” crime fight dutifully all these kind thing no go dey happen. We all in the mess you put up bruh ???????????????? https://t.co/YMoBrNgD8T

— #OCCUPYLEKKITOLLGATE ????????? (@TMGofLagos) March 1, 2021