The Calabar Free Trade Zone in Cross River and Akwa Ibom Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has arrested three suspected job syndicates.
Mrs Patience Burromvyat, the Customs Area Controller in charge of Calabar Free Trade Zone and Akwa Ibom Area Command, said that the suspects were arrested on Feb. 24, 2018 in Calabar.
Burromvyat explained that the suspects were arrested for issuing fake customs recruitment letters to unsuspecting members of the public and duped them of large sums of money in the process.
She added that the arrest was made possible through a tip-off by concerned members of the public and sustained surveillance by officers of the command.
“Their method of operation involved opening a fake website on which they advertise recruitment exercise purportedly by NCS to attract innocent job seekers who are then duped of various sums of money.
“I wish to seize this opportunity to advice members of the public, especially job seekers, to beware of internet fraudsters who ask for money to give jobs.
“Recruitment into the Nigerian Customs Service will be advertised in the media at the appropriate time by the headquarters,’’ she advised.
The controller said that the suspects would be charged to court after investigation to serve as deterrent to others.
Effiong Umoh, whom the NCS identified as the principal suspect, told NAN in an interview that he got the link through a friend from Facebook.
Umoh said that he was looking for a job when he was lured into the act.
“I got the forms from a man I met on Facebook. He gave me the forms through one of his boys in Calabar. He even promised that we will go to Port Harcourt for the recruitment.
“I have not met the guy in person, but I only had transaction with his boys in Calabar. I have not given out letters to anybody yet.
“He told us that we will give him N280,000 when he gives us the job. His name is Adamu, I have his account number and other details on my phone.
“He told me that the NCS was doing replacement, which was what attracted me to do business with him,’’ Umoh said. (NAN)
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