FG uncovers plans to defraud amnesty beneficiaries

The Presidential Amnesty Programme Office says it has uncovered “a well-hatched plan” to defraud unsuspecting beneficiaries of the amnesty programme for former agitators in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

In a disclaimer titled; ‘Amnesty Office Uncovers Plan to Defraud Beneficiaries’, issued yesterday by the Head of Media and Communications, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, the Amnesty Office said the fraudsters have been sending text messages entitled: “Important Amnesty Message” to beneficiaries and delegates of the programme.

He stated that the message claimed they have been “designated for the Empowerment Payout Scheme” and directed victims to visit a website: www.nigerdeltaamnestypayout. org.

The fraudsters also directed beneficiaries to pay the sum of N3, 000 as processing fee into a designated bank accounts with the name, Ferdinand Ikwang, for the eventual payment of the sum of N5, 000,000 as ‘Empowerment Start- Up Grant/Niger Delta Ex- Agitators Bonus Empowerment Payout.’

In the disclaimer made available to Sunday Mirror in Benin City, the Amnesty Office stated that it did not send or authorize such message to any beneficiary or delegate while further clarifying that there was no plan to pay ex-agitators such amount of money now or in the future. It urged beneficiaries to be wary of the antics of fraudulent people, who have been unrelenting in an attempt to defraud beneficiaries of the programme.

The disclaimer stated that “There have been several attempts to defraud beneficiaries using the letterhead of law firms, some military formations in the Niger Delta as well as fake MOUs. “We always advise beneficiaries and delegates to quickly contact the office for clarification whenever they receive such information.

We have never demanded money from beneficiaries to process their documents. This time, some smart persons, using text messages and the website, are trying again to defraud former agitators.

“We state unequivocally that all information on the website are the handiwork of scammers and have no bearing whatsoever with the operations of the Presidential Amnesty Office or the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta.”

The disclaimer concluded that the office has notified all the appropriate security agencies of the development and that they have since commenced investigation into the scam.