The social media accounts of the board chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chiedu Ebie, have been hacked by fraudsters.
The commission disclosed that a group of impostors cloned the chairman’s Facebook account and hacked his Instagram account, using the compromised platforms to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
The NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, disclosed this in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Monday.
According to the statement, the impostors are also using the name and logo of the interventionist agency to circulate dubious proposals and scam unsuspecting individuals, describing these activities as criminal acts.
The statement reads, “It has come to our notice that some fraudulent individuals have hacked the social media handles of the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Mr Chiedu Ebie.
“The criminally-minded individuals cloned the chairman’s Facebook account and hacked his Instagram account, ostensibly to use the compromised accounts to defraud unsuspecting persons.
“The impersonators are also using the name and logo of the NDDC to send out dubious business proposals. Clearly, the cloned accounts are being used to dupe members of the public and, in the process, bring the NDDC and its management into disrepute. The security agencies have been alerted to investigate and bring the criminals to justice.”
The statement further advised the public to remain vigilant and avoid falling prey to the fraudulent schemes of the impostors.
“Efforts are being made to recover the compromised accounts. In the meantime, the public is advised not to transact with these faceless and dubious scammers. Anyone who deals with such persons or entities does so at their own risk.
“The NDDC will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting from such transactions. We urge the public to report any suspicious or fraudulent online activities to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.
“Those with legitimate business dealings with the NDDC are encouraged to verify information through the Commission’s official website and verified social media platforms,” the statement concluded.
