The European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS has alerted the public to a fraudulent document falsely claiming the existence of an EU-World Bank recovery programme designed to compensate victims of alleged fraudulent fund transfers in Africa.
In a statement, the Delegation described the document as entirely fake, stressing that it did not originate from the Secretary General of the Council of the European Union, Ms Thérèse Blanchet, as claimed by the scammers.
According to the fake document, the purported programme would provide compensation to citizens of Europe and other countries whose legally transferred funds were allegedly trapped in banks and other financial institutions across West Africa.
It also falsely claimed that the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS had been mandated to supervise the compensation process and directed claimants to contact him.
Dismissing the claims, the EU Delegation stated that no such programme exists and that neither the European Union nor the World Bank is involved in any initiative of that nature.
The Delegation further disclosed that the email addresses and telephone number listed in the document as belonging to Ms Blanchet and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS are fake and are being used by fraudsters to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
It urged the public to disregard the fraudulent document and avoid engaging with those behind the scam.
The Delegation advised that its official website and verified social media platforms remain its only recognised channels for communicating with the public and providing authentic information on its activities and programmes.
