The Nigerian Communications Commission urges telecoms stakeholders, corporate organisations, and the general public to be wary of the nefarious activities of fraudsters, to avoid falling victim.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said the telecoms regulatory Commission discovered, through social listening and environmental surveillance copies of a fraudulent letter, titled: “Certificate of Site Ownership”, for clearance of “Mast Transmission Antenna”, being circulated by some unidentifiable individuals, and purporting that the letter was issued by the Nigerian Communications Commission.
The said fraudulent letter according to report claimed that the regulator had conducted an inspection on a certain site, which is for “9-Mobile Telecommunications Company G.P.R.S”.
The Commission noted the fraudsters also gave conditions that the unsuspecting recipient of the letter would meet to make the certificate valid and effective for use by “10th November, 2022”.
However, following the development, Mr. Reuben Muoka, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, Monday stated that it is possible that several and variants of the fraudulent letter may have been sent to individuals and organisations, with the intent to defraud, using the name of the regulatory Commission.
“The Nigerian Communications Commission, therefore, wishes to dissociate itself from the import, and content of this letter, or similar ones, which may have been sent out by the faceless individuals.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the design and format of the forged letterhead bears no similarity with those of the Commission,” said Muoka.
The Director of Public Affairs also noted the department quoted in the fraudulent letter is non-existent at the Commission.
The statement said: “The signatory to the letter is also not known to the Commission.
“The public is hereby advised to note that telecommunications services are offered by companies which are issued licences by the Commission.
“The Commission also maintains a register of all telecommunications companies in the country.”
According to NCC, the process of initiating, or exchanging correspondence between the Commission and the licensees has a definite and distinct standard and style.
Besides, the Commission stated that it has very open and credible channels of communication, through which all information about it, and its activities, including matters relating to correspondence on any subject matter, can be leveraged for verification.
Muoka added: “While the Commission frowns on the nefarious activities of these fraudsters, telecoms stakeholders, the Nigerian public, and corporate organisations, are advised to be wary of the wiles of many fraudsters prowling in the streets with all kinds of illegitimate documents, to avoid being victims of their nefarious activities.”
