The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has discovered, through social listening and environmental surveillance that a fraudulent letter, titled: “Certificate of Site Ownership”, for clearance of “Mast Transmission Antenna”, are being circulated by some unidentifiable individuals, and purporting that the letter was issued by the Commission.
According to a statement released Monday by the NCC and signed by the Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka: “The fraudulent letter claimed that the Commission had conducted an inspection on a certain site which is for “9-Mobile Telecommunications Company G.P.R.S”. 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”. 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 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.”
The Commission further pointed out that the design and format of the forged letterhead bears no similarity with those of the Commission. The department quoted in the fraudulent letter is non-existent at the Commission. 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. Suffice it to say, that, the process of initiating, or exchanging correspondence between the Commission, and the licensees, has definite and distinct standard and style,” the statement from the NCC warned.
It further clarified on the Commission’s processes: “In addition, the Commission 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.”
While frowning at the nefarious activities of these fraudsters, the Commission further cautioned the Nigerian public, telecom stakeholders, and corporate organisations, 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.
