A-L-E-R-T: Ongoing Civil Service Recruitment Linked to Mohammed Abubakar Sani Fr@udulent

For about six months, a fake Federal Civil Service recruitment campaign has been in circulation. It starts with an innocent-looking job post - shared on Facebook and WhatsApp groups, or published on obscure blogs - all promising opportunities from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).

Every version leads to the same email address: fgn.secretariat@gmail.com

FIJ found that this scheme has been circulating since June 2024 and reappearing with slight variations each time. The script, however, is the same.

Prospective applicants are asked to send their CVs to the email address. After a few days of wait, applicants receive further instructions to fill out a Google form and pay a processing fee of N1,400 into an OPay account belonging to Muhammad Abubakar Sani.

The earliest instance of the scam appeared on Facebook, where an individual named Engineer Usman announced, "Employment Application Submission at Office of the Head of Civil Service Commission of The Federation." The post urged applicants to email their CVs for consideration.

By July, a Nairaland account styled as Federal Government Employment Scheme, recycled the scheme with slightly more detail. It claimed there was a "massive recruitment opening" under the current administration, again pointing job seekers to the same email address.

By October, the scam had become more elaborate. Federal Government Employment, a suspicious Facebook page, released a post dressed up with official language and details.

It listed eligibility criteria, including academic qualifications, NYSC certification and Nigerian citizenship, as well as a closing date of October 29, 2024. Applicants were assured that all they had to do was email their CVs and follow the payment instructions.

Similar posts were published on other obscure blogs like Naijanewstrend in October.
SIGNS OF FRAUD
For one, no legitimate Federal Civil Service recruitment drive demands payment from job seekers. Public sector job applications in Nigeria are typically free, as outlined in official guidelines.

Then there is the email address: fgn.secretariat@gmail.com. It is different from contact email addresses listed on the Federal Civil Service Commission's website, which are contact@fedcivilservice.gov.ng and info@ohcsf.gov.ng. Email addresses dedicated to a government agency often end with ".gov.ng"

The Federal Civil Service Commission has twice disclaimed the recruitment calls - once in July and in October. FIJ also reached out to the commission directly. A representative confirmed there has been no recruitment drive in 2024.

The WhatsApp profile associated with the OPay account has the coat of arms of the Federal Civil Service Commission, likely to lend a false sense of legitimacy.

When FIJ called the number however, it was switched off. Messages sent to the number have not been responded to as of press time.