The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has raised alarm over the activities of a criminal syndicate allegedly cloning his voice and using it to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians with promises of Federal Government appointments.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, on Thursday, Akume said the fraudsters have impersonated him in audio calls and text messages, targeting high-profile individuals and soliciting payments ranging from ₦5 million to ₦15 million in exchange for phantom political positions.
“From information available to the office, the fraudsters cloned the voice of the SGF, using it to solicit money in return for federal appointments,” the statement read.
The SGF further revealed that the scammers not only cloned his voice but also spoofed the phone numbers of other high-profile individuals to give credibility to their fraudulent scheme.
“These scammers attach bank account details to messages sent to victims and request them to send their CVs to cloned emails,” Odunuga added.
The statement noted that the fraudsters have been operating through both traditional bank accounts and fintech mobile wallets, complicating efforts to trace the financial trails.
Distancing himself from the illicit scheme, Akume stressed that appointments to Federal Government boards and parastatals are transparent and not for sale under any guise.
The statement noted, “Senator Akume emphasized that the appointment processes for Nigerians into boards and parastatals are transparent and verifiable, urging individuals not to pay any money in expectation of securing a position.”
The Office of the SGF confirmed that it has notified relevant security agencies, urging members of the public to report suspicious calls or messages to law enforcement.
“The Office of the SGF strongly advises Nigerians to report the activities of these fraudulent people to the authorities while taking all precautionary steps necessary to avoid being victims of the scammers,” the statement added.
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