Please Be Informed – Nigeria Customs Warn Nigerians Against Falling For Fake WhatsApp Auction Scams
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has cautioned the public to beware of fraudulent WhatsApp messages advertising fake e-auction deals and “quick purchase” offers falsely associated with the agency.
In a statement posted on Tuesday, October 28, the NCS said it had identified a WhatsApp number, “+234 814 732 3739”, impersonating customs officers and deceiving unsuspecting citizens with false claims of representing the agency.
“Please be informed that this number does NOT belong to the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service. The messages and posts circulating from this number are FAKE and fraudulent,” the statement read.
The service clarified that its National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, has only one verified Facebook account, Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada (with a blue verification badge), and one official WhatsApp contact, which is not the number used by the scammers.
It stressed that no customs officer is authorised to conduct e-auctions or transactions via private WhatsApp messages.
“There is no ongoing auction via WhatsApp, and no individual officer is authorised to conduct e-auction on behalf of the Service through private messages,” the NCS stated.
The public was advised to ignore and block such numbers, avoid sending money or personal information to anyone claiming to represent the NCS via WhatsApp, and to report such fraudulent accounts to the appropriate authorities.
For verified updates, the service urged Nigerians to follow its official social media channels, Facebook (Nigeria Customs Service), Instagram (@customsng), X (@CustomsNG), YouTube (@customsng), and its website (https://customs.gov.ng).
“Please stay alert, verify before you trust, and share this message widely to protect others from falling victim to these scams,” the NCS added.
Reports have surfaced in recent months of fraudsters cloning the NCS website and other official-looking platforms to defraud buyers.
In a separate incident, a 59-year-old woman, Rakiyat Musa, was arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly impersonating a customs officer and obtaining over ₦34 million under false pretence. She was charged with conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, stealing, impersonation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.