The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has raised the alarm over what it described as fake sting operations being carried out by impersonators across major cities in Nigeria.
The commission raised the alarm in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale.
The statement revealed that several ingenious but fraudulent means are being employed by those described as “dark characters” to besmirch the reputation of the EFCC.
Buttressing the claim, the commission said there is a gang of fraudsters now operating around popular Eateries or fun spots in major cities across the country.
“Their modus operandi is laying ambush for innocent youths coming out of the Eateries and harassing them on unfounded suspicions of being internet fraudsters and dispossessing them of their valuables.
“These characters usually portray the identities of authentic EFCC officers by dressing in fake uniforms and moving their victims to locations bearing fictitious resemblance to an EFCC office.
“There is also a gang of itinerant criminals harassing innocent motorists on the identities of their number plates. These ones wield dangerous weapons to compel their victims to offer them money on trumped-up accusations.
“There is yet another tribe of online impersonators and fraudulent content creators dramatizing fake sting operations of the EFCC with evidence of broken doors, windows and forced entrance into their premises.
“Such uncharacteristic portrayals of the EFCC could deceive unsuspecting members of the public into holding the Commission and its officers culpable of contrived actions of impersonators”, the statement added.
