The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has warned the general public to beware of impersonators parading themselves as officials of the commission.
The Commission says such individuals and also defrauding unsuspecting members of the public.
Despite arrests and successful prosecution of some of the fraudsters, EFCC in a statement signed by Wilson Uwujaren, it’s head, media & publicity unit, said on Tuesday that the crime has recently been on the increase.
He said the syndicates have kept extorting money from members of the public under various guises.
One of the many tactics used by the gangsters, he said, is the sending of text messages to would-be victims, alleging that they have pending cases before the EFCC and offering proposals for a soft landing.
In an attempt to evade such possible arrest and possible prosecution for unstated crimes, he said, some persons fall victims to the impostors.
“There have been of recent, 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,” the statement read.
Sounding a note of warning to the victims of fraud, the commission said, “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.
“The Commission does not demand or accept payment, either to commence or discontinue an investigation; no EFCC invitation will require the invitee to report at any building or location outside the known offices of the Commission,” it stated.
He added that, “Any person who receives an invitation letter should confirm the authenticity of such an invitation from the Commission through the following email or telephone numbers: info@efccnigeria.org, 09-9044752 or 09-9044753.”
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