By Anastasia John E
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a stern warning to the Nigerian public regarding the escalating activities of fraudulent individuals and organized groups. These malicious actors are falsely impersonating the apex bank, deceitfully offering non-existent contracts, loans, grants, and intervention funds to unsuspecting citizens.
In a formal statement released on Tuesday, Hakama Sidi Ali, the acting director of corporate communications at the CBN, expressed deep concern over the persistent nature of these scams. She highlighted that despite a previous advisory issued on November 18, 2024, these deceptive practices continue to plague digital platforms.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has once again become aware of the nefarious activities of individuals and groups who are fraudulently claiming to represent or act on behalf of the CBN,” the statement declared with palpable urgency. “These criminals are actively disseminating fabricated offers of contracts, loans, grants, intervention funds, and other enticing financial benefits, falsely asserting that these are issued or endorsed by the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
The CBN unequivocally stated that it has not authorized, licensed, or appointed any individual, group, or organization to serve as an intermediary for such purported financial opportunities. The apex bank firmly reiterated its established protocols, emphasizing that it does not engage in the awarding of contracts or the disbursement of funds through unsolicited electronic communications.
This includes but is not limited to emails, phone calls, Short Message Service (SMS), WhatsApp messages, or any form of social media interaction.
Furthermore, the financial regulator explicitly cautioned the public against a common tactic employed by these fraudsters: demanding upfront payments under various guises as a prerequisite for accessing these fictitious financial benefits. The CBN stressed that it never requires any form of payment in exchange for legitimate financial disbursements.
“Should you be contacted by individuals or entities making such audacious claims, we implore you to exercise extreme caution and refrain from engaging with them under any circumstances,” the CBN strongly advised. “Instead, it is imperative that such incidents are reported without delay to the appropriate law enforcement agencies or the nearest branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting the financial well-being of all Nigerians. The apex bank assured the public that it is actively collaborating with security agencies to rigorously combat these fraudulent activities and bring the perpetrators to justice. Nigerians are urged to remain vigilant and to verify any financial offers purportedly originating from the CBN through official channels.
