The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has issued a strong warning to the public about the rise of online scams falsely linked to the agency. The NCS highlighted the surge in fraudulent recruitment and auction offers circulating on social media platforms, stressing that the service does not conduct recruitment or auctions online.
Speaking in Abuja, the National Public Relations Officer, Abdullahi Maiwada, expressed concern over fake social media accounts impersonating senior customs officials, including the Comptroller-General of Customs, to deceive unsuspecting Nigerians. He described these scams as criminal schemes designed to defraud citizens and damage the reputation of the NCS.
Maiwada announced the arrest of Mr. Okoli Okana Boniface, who allegedly manipulated the recruitment process while falsely claiming to be an aide to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The arrest, handled by the Customs Police Unit, demonstrated the NCS’s commitment to protecting the integrity of its operations. Further investigations are ongoing to identify and prosecute other fraudsters involved in similar scams.
The NCS urged Nigerians to verify all recruitment and auction information via official channels and to avoid dealing with unverified social media accounts. Maiwada reaffirmed the service’s zero-tolerance policy on fraud, encouraging the public to report suspicious activities.
“The NCS remains dedicated to exposing and prosecuting those who attempt to compromise our operations through fraudulent means,” Maiwada said.
