By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
The Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning had described as fake letters presently circulating on Social media purported to solicit funding on its behalf to fight the novel coronavirus pandemic.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Communication, Mr Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi on Abuja on Sunday described the authors of the said letter as fraudsters.
The statement reads:” The attention of the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning has been drawn to the activities of fraudsters impersonating the Ministry in an attempt to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
“Of particular concern to the Ministry is the recent purported letter circulating on Social Media and part of its content reads thus: “DONATIONS SO FAR FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID -19 IN NIGERIA” referenced: FMF/HMF/EFCC/S-EFFE-REC/2020/1, and dated 28th March, 2020”.
“The purported letter mentioned names of notable Nigerians including Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Tony Elemelu, Jim Ovia, Tuface Idibia, Atiku Abubakar, NNPC, Access Bank, among others.
“The letter concluded by appealing to Nigerians to: “Please give the little you have to aid the fight against Covid-19. Nothing is too small.”
“We wish to inform all members of the public, particularly members of the social media community, that by this statement, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, and the Office of the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning disassociate itself from the purported donations and letter.
“It is fake, it is a SCAM. The Ministry has, therefore, called on all Nigerians and the general public to disregard the letter for what it is – a SCAM. The Ministry has neither put out a request for donations nor received any.
“The Ministry also wishes to warn the general public that it will not be liable for any financial transaction which may have transpired between people and scammers who have created emails or social media accounts in the name of the Ministry or principal officers of the Ministry.
“Accordingly, the Ministry wishes to advise all members of the public to desist from transacting business(es) with imposters as doing so would be at their own risk”.
