The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has warned the public about a fraudulent scheme involving a scammer impersonating him on WhatsApp platform.
In an official statement released on Wednesday by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, Segun Tomori, it was disclosed that a scammer was using the phone number +234 707 743 7582 and bearing the image of Dr. Alake to deceive unsuspecting individuals.
“The attention of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has been drawn to a phone number being used by a scammer, purporting to be the minister on the popular social media platform, WhatsApp,” the statement read.
Tomori clarified that neither the minister nor any of his associates were connected to the fraudulent phone number. He emphasised that the contact number in question, along with any communication purportedly from Dr. Alake through this medium, is fake.
“This is the handiwork of an impostor. The Minister urges the public to disregard any correspondence or communication supposedly from him through the said contact number,” Tomori noted.
He added that the Minister has reported the incident to the relevant security agencies and urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and cautious of such scams.