Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has alerted the public to the activities of criminal syndicates allegedly cloning his voice and impersonating high-profile individuals to defraud unsuspecting persons with promises of federal appointments.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, Akume disclosed that the fraudsters have been using the fake voice recordings to solicit huge sums of money from targets, claiming they have been shortlisted for federal government positions.
He further revealed that the scammers also clone the phone numbers of prominent Nigerians to contact potential victims, often demanding between ₦5 million and ₦15 million to “facilitate” non-existent appointments. Victims are also asked to send their curriculum vitae to cloned email addresses and to deposit funds into bank accounts, some of which are domiciled in new-generation banks and popular fintech mobile money platforms.
“The Office of the SGF has been inundated with enquiries about the activities of these fraudulent individuals and groups,” Akume said. “The appointment process into boards and parastatals is transparent, verifiable, and does not require any form of payment. Nigerians are advised not to give money in expectation of securing a position.”
He added that relevant security agencies have been briefed on the matter and urged members of the public to report any suspicious activity while taking necessary precautions to avoid falling victim.