FG warns of fake diplomatic recruitment scam

The Federal Government has warned Nigerians to disregard fraudulent messages circulating online, which falsely claim to offer employment opportunities within the country’s diplomatic service.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nigeria described the messages as the handiwork of fraudsters seeking to exploit unsuspecting members of the public.

The ministry said the scam falsely informs recipients that they have been shortlisted for roles in the consular sections of Nigerian missions abroad, and requests payment for the processing of a purported “credence note”.

Spokesperson to the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, stressed that the claims are entirely baseless, noting that there is currently no recruitment exercise ongoing in any Nigerian mission overseas.

The statement further clarified that all legitimate recruitment into the nation’s foreign service is conducted solely through the Federal Civil Service Commission, and not via email, WhatsApp, or other informal platforms.

It emphasised that no fees are required at any stage of the recruitment process or diplomatic postings, warning that any request for payment should be treated as fraudulent.

The ministry also noted that the perpetrators attempted to give credibility to the scam by referencing security clearance procedures and falsely attributing the communication to official channels.

Nigerians were advised to ignore such messages and promptly report any suspicious requests for payment to relevant security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services.

The government reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and urged the public to verify information through official communication channels.

Source: Vanguard