The Nigerian Army has issued a warning to the public regarding the activities of fraudsters operating fake social media accounts that impersonate senior military officers. These accounts are used to deceive and scam unsuspecting members of the public.
Fake Facebook Accounts in Officers' Names
The army revealed that some individuals have created fraudulent Facebook accounts using the name of Major General Raymond Utsaha, the Deputy Chief of Standards and Evaluation (Army). However, these accounts display the photograph of Major General Bamidele Alabi, the Chief of Policy and Plans. This misrepresentation is designed to lend credibility to the scam.
Official Statement from the Army
In a statement shared via its official X handle on Sunday, the Nigerian Army explained that the fake accounts are intended to deceive people through false representations and unauthorized online interactions. The army cautioned Nigerians against responding to friend requests, financial demands, or any form of unofficial communication originating from these accounts.
According to the military, senior officers do not conduct official business, request money, award contracts, or handle sensitive matters through personal social media platforms. Any such requests should be treated as fraudulent.
Call for Vigilance
The Nigerian Army urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious online activities or fake accounts to the relevant security agencies. The army also assured Nigerians that efforts are ongoing to track down the individuals involved in cyber impersonation and other fraudulent activities linked to these fake profiles.
The army emphasized the importance of verifying the authenticity of social media accounts claiming to belong to military personnel and advised the public to rely only on official communications from verified channels.
