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Nigerians promised fake jobs
03/09/2007 12:22 - (SA)
Lagos - Nigeria's new government on Monday alerted the country's 140 million residents against falling prey to conmen promising fake jobs and contracts at the country's top government hospital.
The warning was the first by the government of President Umaru Yar'Adua, who took power in April and had pledged to clean-up the reputation of Africa's largest democracy, which was tarnished by endemic corruption and fraud.
A statement by the information ministry said: "The federal government wishes to alert the general public about the activities of some unscrupulous people who have been using the name of the National Hospital, Abuja, to defraud unsuspecting individuals and organisations."
It said the fraudsters were promising "huge contracts and employment" in the emails, adding: "Anyone seeking authentic information about the National Hospital can get it from its official website."
Nigeria was notorious for internet scams with fraudsters bombarding computer owners with emails, seeking to trick them into handing over bank details or making advance payments on non-existent money-making schemes.
Experts said that the so-called 419 fraudsters - named after the relevant section in Nigeria's criminal code - stole hundreds of millions of dollars every year from unsuspecting victims.
The fraudsters sent emails all over the world promising the recipients quick financial gains from a make-believe inheritance or fictitious lottery wins in exchange for 'processing fees' of several thousand dollars.
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