By Able Winnard
The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Hon. Peter Odey has raised an alarm on a fake social media account impersonating him by a suspected internet fraudster.
The Deputy Governor raised the alarm in a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Fred Abua Esq, calling on members of the public to be careful of the said accounts, especially on Facebook, asking some members of the public to pay a certain amount of money for employment opportunities, scholarships, and other benefits.
He said he never and will never request payments, no matter how small, through social media platforms nor will he transact any government business through any unofficial channels.
The number two citizen in Cross River State emphasized that employment opportunities, scholarships, and related programs offered by the Cross River State Government will always be made public through official and legitimate channels, such as publications from the Civil Service Commission and authorized media channels.
It reads in parts: “It has come to our attention that some unscrupulous individuals have been engaging in fraudulent activities on social media platforms, particularly on Facebook, by impersonating the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey.
The impersonators make false promises of employment opportunities, scholarships, and other benefits, requesting payments from unsuspecting members of the public.
“I wish to categorically and unequivocally dissociate Rt. Hon. Peter Odey and the Office of the Deputy Governor from these malicious activities being carried out by petty criminals, and to condemn in the strongest possible terms all attempts by these fraudsters attempting to deceive and exploit innocent citizens not minding the harsh economic realities our country is experiencing at this time.
“The public should take notice that Rt. Hon. Peter Odey and his office have never and will never request payments, no matter how small, through social media platforms nor will he transact any government business through any unofficial channels. Employment opportunities, scholarships, and related programs offered by the Cross River State Government will always be made public through official and legitimate channels, such as publications from the Civil Service Commission and authorized media channels.
“We urge the public to exercise extreme caution and vigilance while interacting on social media and other online platforms. We encourage everyone to verify the authenticity of any communication claiming to be the Deputy Governor or from his Office before taking any action or providing personal information.
“The Office of the Deputy Governor remains committed to serving the people of Cross River State with transparency, integrity, and accountability.
“In light of these recent incidents, we have reported the fraudulent accounts to the relevant authorities, and we will continue to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to ensure that these fraudsters are apprehended and held accountable for their actions.
“We value the trust placed in us by the public and will take every necessary step to protect the interests of our citizens.”
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