SCAM ALERT: INEC warns against fake recruitment adverts on social media

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned Nigerians to beware of fake recruitment adverts circulating on social media.

In a statement issued on Saturday by Festus Okoye, INEC national commissioner, the electoral body said it had previously warned of “fake employment merchants and racketeers who open fake employment websites and issue fake employment letters purporting to be acting on behalf of the commission”.

According to Okoye, scammers are recirculating INEC’s old advertisement for recruitment on social media platforms with the intention to “lure and dupe unsuspecting members of the public with attractive offers of employment”.

“The commission unequivocally dissociates itself from the antics of these scammers and fake employment merchants and reiterates the fact that its recruitment portal is no longer active and was shut down the moment the commission suspended its recruitment exercise,” the statement reads.

“It will be recalled that on the 30th of May 2020 and 31st December 2020, the commission issued a statement drawing the attention of the public to the circulation of purported letters of employment/appointment allegedly emanating from it. We had informed members of the public that the recruitment exercise has been suspended.

“The commission will continue to conduct its activities in the best tradition of openness and transparency. This policy of transparency informs the wide publicity given to its recruitment drive any time the commission embarks on such.

“We advise the public to discountenance all rumours of recruitment by the commission and treat letters of employment/recruitment purportedly emanating from the commission as a scam.”