Customs Arrest Fake Auction In Markudi

Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service on Tuesday arrested two persons in Markudi, the Benue State capital who specialise in using the Facebook social media site in advertising fake car auction sales to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

The arrest was disclosed to participants in a one day workshop organised by the customs to further reinforced the service, where

resolved bring to a halt the plethora of fake customs to auction adverts on various social media platforms, particularly on Facebook. Addressing  participants at the opening session of the event the Controller General of Customs, Alhaji Dikko Abdullahi, said the service is really concerned over the rate at which fraudsters are using its name to perpetuate their nefarious activities.

He dissociated himself and the customs service from some Facebook accounts created in his name and fake customs web sites being used to swindle job seekers.

Alhaji Abdullahi urged participants at the workshop to join the service in spreading the enlightenment campaigns aimed at discouraging Nigerians from being defrauded by internet fraudsters who seems to have made the name of the customs using various photographs of its senior operatives as cover for deceit.

He revealed for the umpteenth time that all auction of seized vehicles or other wares purportedly advertised by the Customs on Facebook and other sites are fake and intended to swindle people.

The event which addressed issues like identity theft and phishing was attended by notable Non Government Organisations with strong presence on the social media, lawyers, media practitioners, customs officers and activists who resolved to partner with the NCS in curbing anti customs criminal activities and other vices.

Deploying ICT to effective use for trade facilitation through newly improvised platforms like the Nigeria Trade Hub, an informative and interactive site put in place by the Nigeria Customs was featured as part of the workshop.