The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has issued a public warning, urging Nigerians to disregard any online solicitations for money transfers or participation in empowerment schemes falsely linked to her.
She revealed that investigations uncovered fraudulent activities by individuals who set up deceptive programs under her name and created fake bank accounts to scam unsuspecting victims.
In a statement released in Abuja by her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, the minister stated:
*”It has come to light that certain individuals have created fake social media accounts in my name, falsely promoting empowerment schemes with enticing offers. These range from trade fairs and agricultural grants to Nollywood-related initiatives, all designed to deceive the public.
These fraudulent platforms are being used to swindle unsuspecting Nigerians, and unfortunately, many have already lost their life savings to these scams.”*
Odumegwu-Ojukwu firmly distanced herself from the fraudulent activities, saying:
“I have no affiliation with these fake social media platforms. Anyone engaging with them does so at their own risk. My only verified and long-standing social media accounts are Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu (Facebook) and biancaodumegwuojukwu (Instagram). Please, remain cautious.”
Highlighting the tactics used by scammers, she explained:
*”These fraudsters claim there is a Federal Ministry of Agriculture or World Bank intervention grant, offering amounts between N1 million and N50 million. They will instruct victims to contact a so-called Dr. Michael Gogo at 08133565420 and make a payment before accessing the funds.
Numerous individuals, including Nigerians in the diaspora, have reached out to me about their unfortunate encounters with these scammers. Many Nigerians in the United States have already fallen victim to their schemes.
I repeat—this is a scam. Please ignore any messages promoting these fraudulent schemes to avoid becoming a victim.