The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has warned Nigerians to be on high alert against an increase in online recruitment scams targeting job seekers.
In a statement posted on its official X account, the commission said fraudsters are exploiting messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and email, as well as personal phone numbers, to contact potential victims. The scammers pose as recruitment agents and create a false sense of urgency, often claiming a 48-hour deadline to pressure individuals into sharing personal and sensitive information.
PenCom outlined several common tactics used in the schemes. These include requests for confidential documents to be sent to a so-called “secretary” via WhatsApp and impersonation of senior officials, including the Director-General of the commission, to lend credibility to the fraudulent offers.
The commission urged the public to delete any suspicious messages immediately and to avoid sharing them further. It also advised job seekers to verify any recruitment communication directly through official channels before responding.
The warning comes amid broader efforts by Nigerian financial regulators to tackle online fraud. Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shut down more than 400 illegal investment schemes nationwide.
PenCom said it is closely monitoring the situation to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s pension assets and to safeguard citizens from financial exploitation.
