Scammers Forge CAC Certificates As Nigerians Lose Millions To Fake Declutter Pages
As social media platforms grow in popularity for decluttering household items, Nigerians are increasingly falling victim to scammers who are using fraudulent tactics to trick unsuspecting individuals.
On September 12, 2023, Chike Abengowe, a 32-year-old auditor, thought he had stumbled upon a legitimate Instagram page, Declutter Abode, which promised to buy and sell used household goods. The page showcased appealing images of items like TVs, deep freezers, and kitchen appliances, all priced attractively. After seeing what appeared to be a registered Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) certificate and the vendor’s friendly photo, Abengowe felt confident and transferred N50,000 for a deep fryer. But soon after, the vendor blocked him on Instagram and WhatsApp, leaving him stranded.
Upon further investigation, Abengowe discovered that the CAC certificate was forged, with the business name on the certificate not matching the one on the CAC website. Unfortunately, his story is far from unique. Scammers, often operating on Instagram and X.com, create fake declutter pages, baiting victims with discounted prices for household items. Once the payments are made, they disappear without a trace.
Experts are advising social media users to be cautious when dealing with declutter vendors, warning that photos alone are not enough to verify authenticity. Some fraudsters even go as far as using stolen images from legitimate businesses to lend credibility to their scams.
In response to the surge in scams, tech experts recommend that buyers look for video introductions from sellers and be cautious when the provided payment methods are untraceable or linked to digital wallets. It’s also crucial to research the vendor and confirm the authenticity of their CAC registration certificates.
The growing popularity of decluttering as a business model has unfortunately made it a target for fraudulent operators. As these scams continue to proliferate, buyers are urged to exercise caution and do their due diligence to avoid falling prey to such deceptive practices.
