Nigeria Customs cautions public against fake WhatsApp auction scams

Tuesday, October 28, 2025

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has issued a public warning urging Nigerians to beware of fraudulent WhatsApp messages advertising fake e-auction deals and “quick purchase” offers falsely linked to the service.

In a statement released on Tuesday, October 28, the NCS revealed that it had uncovered a WhatsApp number — +234 814 732 3739 — being used by scammers posing as customs officers to deceive unsuspecting citizens.

“Please be informed that this number does NOT belong to the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service. The messages and posts circulating from this number are FAKE and fraudulent,” the statement emphasized.

The agency clarified that its National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, operates only one verified Facebook account — Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada (with a blue verification badge) — and one official WhatsApp contact, which is not the number used by the fraudsters. The service reiterated that no customs officer is authorized to conduct e-auctions or transactions through private WhatsApp messages.

“There is no ongoing auction via WhatsApp, and no individual officer is authorized to conduct any form of e-auction on behalf of the Service,” the NCS added.

Members of the public were advised to ignore and block such contacts, refrain from sending money or personal information to anyone claiming to represent the NCS on WhatsApp, and report fraudulent accounts to the appropriate authorities.

For authentic information, Nigerians were urged to follow the service’s official channels — Facebook (Nigeria Customs Service), Instagram (@customsng), X (@CustomsNG), YouTube (@customsng), and the official website (www.customs.gov.ng).

“Please stay alert, verify before you trust, and share this message widely to help protect others from falling victim to these scams,” the statement concluded.

The warning follows a rise in reports of fraudsters cloning the NCS website and other fake platforms to defraud buyers. In a related case, a 59-year-old woman, Rakiyat Musa, was recently arraigned before the Igbosere Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for impersonating a customs officer and allegedly defrauding victims of over ₦34 million. She faces charges of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, impersonation, and stealing.