Customs Warns Public Against Fake Recruitment, Auction by Scammers

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has issued a cautionary notice to the public regarding fraudulent recruitment and auction offers purportedly associated with the service.

Abdullahi Maiwada, the national public relations officer of the NCS, delivered this warning on Friday during a press briefing held at the service’s headquarters in Abuja.

Maiwada highlighted that fraudsters have fabricated counterfeit social media profiles, impersonating the identities of the comptroller-general of customs, as well as both serving and retired senior officers, in a bid to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians.

“We have observed a troubling surge in counterfeit accounts bearing the names and likenesses of the comptroller-general of customs, the national PRO, and even retired senior officers, all falsely purporting to offer employment and auction opportunities,” Maiwada stated.

He emphasized that the NCS does not conduct recruitment or auctions through social media, characterizing such activities as deliberate attempts to defraud Nigerians.

Maiwada disclosed that the service recently apprehended Okoli Boniface, a suspect, on June 16, for allegedly impersonating an aide to Oluremi Tinubu, the first lady, and tampering with the recruitment process.

“The case was promptly reported and thoroughly investigated by the customs police unit.

Findings confirmed it was a calculated attempt to undermine the integrity of the recruitment exercise,” he remarked.

He described the arrest as evidence of the agency’s zero-tolerance stance on fraud while reiterating the service’s dedication to upholding credibility in its operations.

Maiwada urged the public to verify recruitment and auction information through the service’s official communication channels.

He added that the service would persist in identifying, exposing, and prosecuting individuals attempting to compromise its operations.