The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has issued a public warning against a fraudulent WhatsApp number circulating online and falsely claiming to represent the agency in e-auction sales and “quick purchase” offers.
In a statement released on Tuesday, October 28, the NCS revealed that the number +234 814 732 3739 was being used by scammers impersonating customs officers to deceive unsuspecting citizens.
“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, operates only one verified Facebook account — Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada (with a blue verification badge) — and an official WhatsApp contact that is not the number being used by the fraudsters.
Emphasizing that no customs officer is authorized to conduct e-auctions or transactions through private messaging platforms, the NCS stated:
“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 agency urged the public to ignore, block, and report such fraudulent contacts and to avoid sending money or personal details to anyone claiming to represent the Customs Service through WhatsApp.
For authentic information, the NCS advised Nigerians to rely on its verified social media handles — Facebook (Nigeria Customs Service), Instagram (@customsng), X (@CustomsNG), YouTube (@customsng) — and its official website, www.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 Service added.
The warning comes amid a surge in online fraud cases involving individuals impersonating customs officers.
In a related case, a 59-year-old woman, Rakiyat Musa, was recently arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly posing as a customs officer and defrauding victims of over ₦34 million under false pretence. She was charged with conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, impersonation, stealing, and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.