The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has issued a fresh warning to Nigerians about a fake recruitment advertisement circulating on social media platforms. In a statement released on Thursday, the Service categorically stated that it is not conducting any recruitment through the advert and described it as a scam designed to deceive members of the public. The NCS urged Nigerians to ignore the fake advert and rely only on official announcements for genuine updates on recruitment and other activities. According to the Service, fraudsters often take advantage of people looking for government jobs by sharing fake recruitment adverts and demanding money from applicants, highlighting the ongoing threat of recruitment scams in the current employment landscape.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has issued a strong warning to job seekers about rising online recruitment scams amid increasing financial crimes through digital platforms. According to reports from Mint, the ministry has urged all job seekers to remain vigilant against falling for such scams and not blindly trust people promising employment in exchange for money and financial benefits. The government emphasized that genuine recruitment through the National Career Service portal is completely transparent and free. The latest warning from NCS reinforces these government efforts to protect job seekers from fraudulent recruitment activities.
The Ministry has categorically clarified that the National Career Service (NCS) portal never charges any fee for registration, job applications or interviews, as stated in a recent tweet. As reported by Mint, victims are often asked to pay registration charges, processing fees or security deposits with false assurances of securing particular jobs or employment. The ministry advised that if any individual makes demands for payment or advances, this should be taken as a warning sign of fraud. The Nigeria Customs Service has also confirmed that it strictly prohibits charging applicants any fees during the recruitment process, with government employment applications being unconditionally free across all legitimate democratic states. The latest NCS warning specifically advises against relying on social media posts or unofficial websites for recruitment information.
To help Nigerians identify genuine information, the Nigeria Customs Service has announced its verified social media platforms for official updates. The agency listed its Facebook page, Nigeria Customs Service, and official Instagram, X, Threads and TikTok accounts using the handle @customsng. The Service encouraged citizens to follow only its verified accounts for credible updates and avoid spreading unverified messages capable of misleading others. The agency stressed that all official announcements concerning recruitment would only be released through its verified communication platforms, with official information concerning recruitment, promotions and other institutional activities always made available through recognised channels.
The ministry has advised aspiring job seekers to be cautious of suspicious calls, messages, emails, or fake recruitment offers that request personal information, confidential details, or direct payments. According to Mint, if cyber fraud is encountered, it should be reported immediately through the national cybercrime helpline at 1930. The Nigeria Customs Service recommends reporting fraudulent details to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the cybersecurity desk of the Nigeria Police Force. Experts emphasize that legitimate agencies will never list personal mobile numbers or commercial email addresses for recruitment inquiries, with official correspondence exclusively utilizing dedicated institutional channels. The latest NCS warning reinforces these protection measures, urging Nigerians to verify all recruitment information through official government communication channels only.
