By Mokobia Rita
ASABA/Nigeria: Suspected fraudsters are impersonating Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme, on social media and WhatsApp to defraud job seekers with false promises of employment in the Delta State Civil Service.
The alleged scam, which involves fake social media accounts and an unauthorised WhatsApp number, is the latest in a series of employment-related fraud schemes exploiting the growing demand for government jobs.
In a public disclaimer issued on Wednesday, Onojaeme said the fraudsters have been using the phone number 07055502867 and other fake online identities to convince unsuspecting victims that they could secure government appointments in exchange for money.
He clarified that the phone number does not belong to him and denied claims by the perpetrators that his official telephone line had been hacked, describing the story as a deliberate attempt to give credibility to the fraudulent operation.
“I have no connection whatsoever with the individuals behind these fake accounts or the phone number being used to perpetrate this fraud. Members of the public should disregard any communication from such sources,” the commissioner said.
Onojaeme stressed that recruitment into the Delta State Civil Service, including positions in the Ministry of Health, is carried out through officially approved procedures and does not require applicants to make payments or seek personal influence.
He urged members of the public, particularly job seekers, to ignore anyone demanding money or favours in exchange for employment, warning that such offers are fraudulent.
The commissioner also encouraged anyone contacted by the suspected scammers to report the incident to law enforcement agencies, saying prompt reporting would help ongoing efforts to identify and prosecute those responsible.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Health is working with relevant security agencies to track those behind the impersonation and bring them to justice.
Employment scams involving the impersonation of government officials have become increasingly common in recent years, with fraudsters taking advantage of the high demand for public sector jobs by using fake identities and false recruitment claims to extort money from unsuspecting applicants.
