TheCable

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says fraudsters are now impersonating its officials and extorting money from unsuspecting people.

The commission arrested one Olubunmo Olalekan, who had been churning out fake invitation letters and messages to prominent citizens and heads of organisations, alleging fraud against them from his base in Akure.

His accomplice, Mohammed Yunusa Tope, a 30-year-old man who hails from Auchi in Edo state, was also arrested.

According to Wilson Uwujaren, the commission’s spokesman, he was picked up in a sting operation at a bank in Kano, as he attempted to withdraw the N2 million he demanded from the head of a federal government agency.

“It has become necessary to alert the general public about the activities of fraudsters who have been impersonating officials of the commission and extorting money from members of the public under various guises. Despite arrests and successful prosecution of some of them by the commission, the syndicates have continued to mushroom and changing tactics as soon as their latest modus operandi is exposed,” Uwujaren said in a statement on Tuesday.

“recently, there has been a worrying upsurge in the number of fake invitation letters purported to have been issued by the EFCC, which the criminals are busy sending to unsuspecting members of the public, alleging high financial crimes against them.

“Pliable recipients of some of these letters have lost millions of naira to these gangsters in their desperation to forestall arrest and possible prosecution for unstated crimes.”

He lamented that despite repeated warnings by the commission, that no genuine EFCC invitation would request a recipient to call any private GSM number or any telephone line, and that EFCC would not invite anybody to a meeting at any place other than its known offices, many were still falling victims of the scam.

“The new dimension to the criminal exploits of the syndicates, is to send text messages to would-be victims, alleging that they have pending cases before the EFCC and offering proposals for a soft landing. This new gimmick is targeted at politicians, especially those who are aspiring to hold offices in the next dispensation.

“The commission wishes to state as follows: EFCC invitation letters do not bear personal telephone numbers. They are usually signed by duly authorised officers and invitees are clearly instructed to report to a specified officer at the Commission’s office.

“No EFCC invitation will require the invitee to report at any building or location outside the known offices of the commission. EFCC invitation cannot be traded off under any circumstance. The commission does not demand or accept payment, either to commence or discontinue an investigation. EFCC does not invite persons under investigation via text messages.”

It urged anyone who receives an invitation letter to confirm the authenticity of such an invitation from the commission by contacting [email protected], 09-9044752 or 09-9044753.

“No authentic EFCC invitation letter will request anybody to contact an official by telephone. Rather, you are asked to report at EFCC office to be interviewed by a designated officer,” he added.