Fraudsters Are Advertising Fake Auctions And Job Scams – Customs WARNING.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has issued a warning to the general public about fraudulent individuals who are using social media to impersonate the agency.

In a statement that was released on Tuesday 16th July  by Abdullahi Maiwada, the national public relations officer of customs, the service stated that these con artists are promoting fraudulent recruiting campaigns and phony auctions.

NCS Warns The Public Against Fraudsters

“The attention of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has been brought to escalating activities of fraudulent entities preying on unsuspecting individuals through social media platforms, falsely claiming association with the service for purposes of auctions or recruitment,” in a statement by the NCS.

“These individuals exploit the public’s trust and ignorance, promoting fictitious auctions and sham recruitment drives supposedly endorsed by our service”.

“The service wishes to clarify that auctions of seized/overtime goods are never conducted via any social media platform”.

“Any such claims on social media should be treated as fraudulent and promptly reported.”

In a statement by the customs, “all seized or overtime goods have a laid-down standard operating procedure (SOP) for disposal in line with the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023”.

How Do You Know Which Customs Auctions Are Real?

To identify genuine Nigeria Customs auctions advertisement, follow these steps:

Verify through official channels:

• Check the official Nigeria Customs Service website for auction notices and information.
• Contact the Nigeria Customs Service directly to confirm the authenticity of any auction.

Be cautious of fraudulent schemes:

• Be wary of unsolicited messages or emails promising auction deals.
• Never pay money to unverified individuals or accounts.

Look for official documentation:

• Genuine auctions will have official documents, such as a Notice of Auction Sale and a bidding form.
• Verify the documents’ authenticity with the Nigeria Customs Service.
• Check for physical addresses and contact information:
• Legitimate auctions will have a physical address and contact information.
• Be suspicious of auctions with only email or phone contacts.
• Remember, it’s always best to prioritize caution and verify through official channels to avoid falling victim to scams.

Ways To Contact The Nigeria Customs Service

“It is pertinent to state that the only portal for e-auction in NCS is auction.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng,” says NCS.

“For authentic updates about the operations of NCS, we strongly encourage the public to verify information exclusively through the official NCS website, customs.gov.ng”.

“Additionally, you can contact our help desk lines through – 07037891156, 0201889889, and 02018898888. You can also reach out to NCS formations nationwide”.

“Furthermore, our trusted official social media hubs for reliable, accurate and timely updates about NCS are as follows: Facebook: CustomsNG, X (Formerly known as Twitter): @CustomsNG, TikTok: @Nigeria_Customs, Instagram: Official_CustomsNG, Threads: Official_CustomsNG, WhatsApp Channel: Nigeria Customs Service, Youtube: NCBN Media House.”

The NCS renewed its steadfast dedication to keeping people safe from scams.

It asked all Nigerians to be careful and alert when they are approached with unclear job openings or offers related to customs autions.

For instant help, NCS said that any suspicious activities should be reported to the closest customs office or through the official channels listed above.

Also See: No new recruitment at Immigration Service –FG