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”, is being circulated by some unidentifiable individuals and purporting that the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, issued the letter.
The fraudulent letter claimed that the Commission had inspected a particular site 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”. Several variants of the fraudulent letter may have been sent to individuals and organizations with the intent to defraud, using the name of the Commission.
In a statement issued by Director of Public Affairs Reuben Muoka, the NCC dissociates itself from the import and content of this letter, or similar ones, which faceless individuals may have sent out.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the design and format of the forged letterhead bear 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.
“As a result, the public is advised to note that telecommunications services are offered by companies for which the Commission issues licences. The Commission also maintains a register of all telecommunications companies in the country.”
Muoka said in the statement that the process of initiating or exchanging correspondence between the Commission, and the licensees, has definite and distinct standards and styles.
It also said 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 the Commission frowns at the nefarious activities of these fraudsters, telecom stakeholders, the Nigerian public, and corporate organizations 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” Muoka added.
