The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has alerted the public of a fraudulent employment scheme that has gone viral online.
A statement by the NIMASA Management on Friday, said the fraudsters had also went as far as contacting some unsuspecting members of the public and soliciting payments for the purpose of securing the supposed job.
The statement reads in part: “Our attention has been drawn to a fraudulent employment scheme currently making the rounds online, and especially on various social media platforms that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will soon commence ‘massive recruitment’ exercise.
“These fraudulent persons have also been known to contact innocent people through e-mail, social media and other forms of internet publication soliciting for payment, inducement, advance fees or other favours in exchange for employment.”
NIMASA, however, warned that people should not pay attention to the scam as it did not advertise any job vacancies and that it would not bear any form of responsibility should anyone go ahead to deal with such fraudsters.
“Victims stand the risk of extortion, hence, members of the public are warned not to make any payment whatsoever to unscrupulous persons parading themselves as employment agents.
“For the avoidance of doubt, any party that puts itself forward as acting on behalf of NIMASA for the purpose of recruitment is completely false and NIMASA disclaims and bears no responsibility whatsoever for their action,” the statement further states.
NIMASA warned that it does not communicate employment vacancies through third party online channels, emails or social media platforms.
It added: “NIMASA hereby expressly disassociates itself from such fraudulent online publications and posts and warns the unsuspecting public not to fall victims to such baseless and false schemes in the guise of employment opportunity.
“Members of the public are hereby urged to treat with suspicion any such offerings and verify their claims in order not to fall prey to these scammers, as NIMASA has not designated any entity or persons to act on its behalf. Please report such incidents to info@nimasa.gov.ng or the appropriate law enforcement agencies. NIMASA expressly disclaims any liability for any losses incurred by any person (s) as a result of reliance on such fraudulent e-mails/online publications.”
