The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has raised the red flag on a new criminal strategy in town in which scammers now use the name of the commission to defraud members of the public.

Creating a fake help desk which they called the EFCC HELP DESK, the scammers, according to investigation, would send out broadcast messages to random phone numbers. Facebook accounts and other social media platforms teasing unsuspecting persons of the existence of scammers in blogosphere and pretending to help them rebuff or outsmart such scammers.

They would leave a number which a person could dial for more details on how the person could obtain help. Any interaction with such number is the access the scammers need and they may proceed to test the person’s smartness by asking for sensitive details including BVN, ATM pin, National Identification Number (NIN) etc, explains Mr Mike Ojogwu, an IT expert.

With any of the above details, the scammers can clear someone’s bank account in a minute, he said.

Worried by this latest trend, the EFCC issued the statement below:

Beware of Scam Alert

The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to  misinformation trending on the social media,  of a Scam Alert which purportedly emanated from EFCC Help Desk Headquarters, Jabi-Abuja.

For the avoidance of doubt, EFCC has no such desk and any information which supposedly emanated from the said  EFCC HELP DESK, did not originate from the EFCC

The use of EFCC by the authors of the Scam Alert,  smacks of sinister motives and it is important that the public is put on notice,  as the Commission will not be liable should anyone becoming a victim of what is obviously a scam.

We urge the public to be circumspect and cross check any doubtful information with the Commission.

The EFCC can be reached through the hotline: +2348093322644; or by  email : info@efcc.gov.ng.

Messages can also be sent to the Commission’s verified social media platforms – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. All share the same address: @officialefcc.