The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has publicly disowned employment letters allegedly issued by the commission, which were generated using artificial intelligence (AI). In a statement released on Tuesday, the commission clarified that it is not currently conducting any recruitment exercise, and therefore, all such letters are fraudulent.
NUPRC Disowns AI-Generated Letters
The NUPRC, in a statement signed by its management, described the letters as "fake" and "misleading," noting that they were not authorized by the commission. The statement emphasized that the commission has a structured recruitment process and would never resort to issuing employment letters without a formal, transparent process.
The commission's spokesperson, who was quoted in the statement, said: "The attention of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has been drawn to some employment letters circulating on social media, allegedly issued by the commission. The commission wishes to state unequivocally that these letters are fake and did not emanate from the commission."
No Recruitment Exercise Ongoing
Further clarifying, the NUPRC stated that it has no ongoing recruitment exercise. The commission urged the public to disregard any such letters and to report any suspicious offers to the appropriate authorities. It also advised job seekers to always verify the authenticity of any employment offer by checking the commission's official website or contacting its designated offices.
The commission's statement comes amid growing concerns about the use of AI to create convincing but fraudulent documents, a trend that has been observed across various sectors in Nigeria. The NUPRC's proactive disavowal is aimed at preventing unsuspecting individuals from falling victim to these scams.
Advice to the Public
The NUPRC has advised the public to be wary of any communication that requests payment in exchange for employment, as the commission does not require any form of payment for its recruitment process. It also reiterated that all official communications from the commission are made through its verified channels.
The commission's management concluded by stating that it is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and integrity in its operations, and it will continue to take necessary steps to protect the public from fraudulent activities. It also encouraged anyone with information about the source of these fake letters to report to the relevant security agencies.
