Indians warned against fake job offers from Nigeria

By Francis Kokutse,

Abuja, April 8 : The Indian high commission in Nigeria has stepped in to stem the increasing number of cases of Indians being duped by Nigerians through various promises, including job offers, and has cautioned its citizens to ignore such proposals.

In a notice posted on its website, the high commission says that "a number of doctors, teachers, etc., used to work in Nigeria during 1960s to 1980s who are still held in high esteem. However, the situation is no longer the same."

"Now few jobs are available in schools, universities, hotels, banks, hospitals for doctors, nurses and laboratory technicians and in the oil industry. Unfortunately, many scam job offers are floating around purportedly for Nigeria or other nearby countries to extract money in the name of visa fees, permit and even deposit or charges for opening a salary account," it added.

For genuine jobs, the high commission said, selections are made after a personal interview in India either by the employer or through reputed consultants/recruiting agents. In such cases, employers will send the authorisation.

"The employer will invariably pay visa fee and the air ticket," the high commission warned and cautioned prospective applicants not to pay for visas or tickets on the promise of getting refund. "Also visa or residence permit cannot be prepared in Nigeria and sent to you," it explained.

"Any online job offer received based on data registered with job sites like timesjob.com/other job sites should not be considered as valid until proper enquiry is done and routine interviews conducted," the note stated.

It added that information regarding bank accounts and personal details should not be divulged. No payment for services relating to job offers and visas is to be made.

It also warned about scams in the form of tender, order and enquiry for supply of various goods and services floating around, often for huge quantities and value, to entice inexperienced exporters. "Such orders, tenders and trade enquiry always claim to be from or on behalf of very high official or semi-official authorities," it cautioned.

(Francis Kokutse can be contacted at fkokutse@hotmail.com)