Nigerian Army warns public about impostors using COAS image

Recently, the Nigerian Army warned citizens about fraudsters impersonating Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff, on social media. These criminals aim to deceive and defraud unsuspecting individuals through fake profiles.

Additionally, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed impostors exploit the COAS’s official portrait to mislead the public. Furthermore, they now conduct virtual meetings via Zoom, WhatsApp, and Facebook to advance scams.

Modus Operandi of the Fraudsters

Maj.-Gen. Nwachukwu explained that during these virtual meetings, participants are asked to share specific numbers displayed on their screens. The fraudsters then use these numbers to engage with individuals and subsequently defraud them.

To help the public identify and avoid falling victim to these scams, the Nigerian Army has released a list of phone numbers frequently used by the impostors. These numbers include:

09033949238, 09075323836, 09074272745, or 08169257155.  08064561495, 08054138812, 09161521558, or 09026515718.

09020898622, 08131333263, 09077188584, or 08084529752.  08147409236, 09136497898, 09024627712, or 07010119398.

Finally, 09138997224, 09061549129, 08163593764, 07035272009, 09018150412, 08093524443, or 08088120581 for further assistance.

Call for Vigilance

The Nigerian Army has urged members of the public to report any interactions with these phone numbers or any similar suspicious activities through its toll-free call center at *193*.

This will allow for proper investigation and necessary action to be taken.

Maj.-Gen. Nwachukwu emphasized that the Nigerian Army has established official communication channels for both personnel and the general public and warned citizens to be cautious.

He advised against participating in virtual meetings or social media interactions where the COAS’ official image is used as a display picture.

“The Nigerian Army advises the public to be cautious and avoid being lured into online engagements falsely linked to the military hierarchy,” he said.

Efforts to Curb Fraudulent Activities

The Nigerian Army assures the public it currently implements all necessary measures to track perpetrators and prevent further scams.

Furthermore, the army emphasizes its commitment to safeguarding citizens and maintaining operational trust.

To aid these efforts, authorities urge the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities.

Doing so will ensure these criminals face justice swiftly and decisively.

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