A gang of criminals operating online has continued to dupe
desperate job seekers through a Facebook account opened in the name of Mrs.
Dolapo Osinbajo, wife of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
Our correspondent learnt that the fraudsters preyed on those
who sent a friend request to the account with the belief that it belonged to
her.
Investigations revealed that upon being a friend on Facebook with the supposed VP’s wife, the sender would be tempted to initiate a chat.
Investigations revealed that upon being a friend on Facebook with the supposed VP’s wife, the sender would be tempted to initiate a chat.
‘‘The chat usually started with greetings after which the
person, who was always overjoyed meeting such a personality online, would plead
for employment assistance. The fraudsters posing as the VP’s wife would
then give the person a number to call in the Nigeria Customs Service for
employment consideration,’’ one of the victims said.
Another victim said the replies often given by the
fraudsters during the chats were so motherly and cordial that it could be
difficult to doubt if it was not the VP’s wife one chatted with.
The victim said, ‘‘It was always a genial chat with words of
encouragement and prayers all the way.’’
One of the victims who identified himself as Charles told
our correspondent that he stumbled on the account when he was posting a picture
he recently took on Facebook.
He said, ‘‘When I saw the account, I sent a friend request
immediately because the VP’s wife is somebody I have a high respect for. I
respect the Osinbajos so much because of their pedigree. Being a member of the
Redeemed Christian Church of God, I had benefitted from the spiritual teachings
of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. After sometime, the request was accepted and I sent
some greetings to her one day that I was online. Few weeks later, I saw her
online again and decided to tell her about my employment problem. She offered
to fix me up in the Nigeria Customs Service.’’
Charles said he started suspecting fraud when the person she
directed him to call requested him to pay N5, 000 compulsorily for a
recruitment form.
‘‘I later discovered that many anxious job seekers had
fallen victim to the ploy,’’ he said.
It was further gathered that job seekers were always
directed to one William with mobile number 07089987414 by the fake Mrs.
Osinbajo. William would later direct them to pay into a First bank account;
3100769983, belonging to one Utako Jerry.
A visit to the Facebook page showed expression like ‘thank
you for accepting my friendship request’ by many who thought it was the VP’s
wife who owned the account.
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