The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a stern warning to Nigerians, urging them to be wary of fraudulent individuals and groups peddling fake contracts, loans, and financial grants purportedly linked to the apex bank.
In a statement released on Monday, the CBN’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications, Mrs. Hakama Sidi-Ali, said the bank’s attention had again been drawn to ongoing fraudulent schemes falsely claiming to represent or act on behalf of the CBN.
“These actors continue to circulate fictitious offers of contracts, loans, grants, intervention funds, and other financial benefits allegedly issued or endorsed by the CBN,” the statement read.
Despite an earlier public advisory issued on November 18, 2024, the CBN noted that these deceptive schemes have persisted, targeting unsuspecting members of the public through emails, phone calls, SMS, WhatsApp messages, and social media platforms.
The apex bank emphasized that it has not authorised, licensed, or appointed any individual, group, or organisation to act as an intermediary in the offering of financial services, contracts, or grants.
“The CBN also does not endorse or support such claims in any form,” the statement continued.
It warned the public not to respond to unsolicited messages offering financial opportunities and to avoid making any form of payment in exchange for non-existent benefits.
“If you are approached by individuals or entities making such claims, we strongly advise that you do not engage with them,” the bank cautioned. “Instead, such incidents should be reported immediately to the appropriate law enforcement agencies or the nearest CBN branch.”
The CBN reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the financial interests of Nigerians and assured that it is collaborating with security agencies to identify and prosecute fraudsters.
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