Nigeria: Beware of Fake Nigeria Immigration Service, Central Bank, oil company websites

By
Oluniyi D. Ajao
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Another common form of cybercrime is phishing. As a matter of fact, financial institution websites are amongst the most commonly phished websites today. According to Wikipedia:

In computing, phishing is a criminal activity using social engineering techniques. Phishers attempt to fraudulently acquire sensitive information, such as usernames, passwords and credit card details, by masquerading as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication. eBay and PayPal are two of the most targeted companies, and online banks are also common targets.

As if the menace of 419 (Advance Fee Fraud) is not enough, some lazy/wanna-get-rich-quick Nigerians have engaged themselves with the business of setting-up fake websites, and then sending out fake emails, in an attempt to defraud innocent or greedy folks in other parts of the world. Common amongst the most phished websites, are those of:

  • The Central Bank of Nigeria [CBN] (Real website: www.cenbank.org)
  • Nigeria Immigration Service: (Real website: www.immigration.gov.ng)
  • Shell, Chevron and other leading oil exploration companies
  • Leading banks and other financial institutions

Modus operandi
Email plays a pivotal role in all these. The scammers after buying domain names that are quite similar to those of the institutions listed above, they then go ahead to create fake email addresses under these domains, and then send mass email to unsuspecting individuals/organizations.

About the Nigerian Central Bank’s website philshing, I can safely assume that they use that to back-up their 419 schemes; make them look real. The same would apply to the fake oil exploration company websites.

Related

Nigeria Immigration Service: I don’t know how they get their victims’ email contacts, but they mail them, claiming to be the authentic Nigeria Immigration Service website. They send fake Visa fees to their victims who want to visit Nigeria and then lure them to pay to them (scammers). Of course, the victims will get no Nigerian visa if they paid. The scammers will be happy, and Nigeria’s image is further tarnished.

A fake financial institution website will serve multiple purposes: back-up their 419 schemes, use it to announce fake lottery winnings, collect the login information of genuine bank customers.

There is no end to the list of online scams these idle hands can come up with. They are getting more and more daring by the day. The skilled ones among them set-up these websites. Some of them look real so beware. Always report such fake websites to the domain registrar, web hosting company, as well as the relevant law enforcement agency in Nigeria: EFCC, The Nigeria Police etc.

NB: A list of some of such fake sites. Beware! Some of them might have keyloggers, viruses, worms, trojan horses downloaded and installed on your PC without your knowledge, if your PC is not secured. http://db.aa419.org/fakebankslist.php?psearch=nig&psearchtype

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Oluniyi D. Ajao
Oluniyi D. Ajao
https://olu.ceo
Oluniyi D. Ajao is an Internet Entrepreneur and Tech Enthusiast based in South Africa. Follow him on twitter @niyyie for more tech updates.
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27 Comments

  1. Hi this is alex i just wanted to know the detailed info. about NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICES,DR. YUSUF ALI,2nd FLOOR, FED. SECRETARIAT COMPLEX, OWERRI,IMO STATE, NIGERIA.
    As i have got an appointment letter from University of Nigeria Nsukka for the post of lecturer in physical education & they asked me to contact above mentioned person. NIS asked me to pay US$1660 to get my visa from nigeria & other Govt. documents.

    If you have any kind of info. regarding the same pls. inform me ASAP.
    Thanks

    regds
    Alex Martin

  3. Dear Sir,

    I have got an offer from HENKELVIC RECRUITMENT AGENCY to work with a company ” TOTAL NIGERIA OIL PLC”., Nigeria. And they had asked to contact Dr Mike Ademola , NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION SERVICE, 2ND FLOOR, FEDERAL SECRETARIAT COMPLEX, P.M.B. 1629, OWERRI, IMO STATE,NIGERIA,
    PHONE: +234-703-072-0064
    Email: [email protected]

    and the NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION SERVICE, had asked to send $ 1380 to their address. pls. suggest me.

    Thanks & Regards

    Naresh Shah

  5. I recieved an offer of appointment as director of ophthalmology Abia State Hospital. They asked me visa fee 1250$. Dr.William Ossage was the man who talked to me from his phone no.2388052326805. Can you confirm its authensity?

  6. Dear Sir,

    I am having an Offer of Job from Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas,NLNG, and I am having a regular chat with Mr. Mike and Mr. Patrick of Immigration Services at their contact number as +234-803-7725475, having email id as [email protected]. They are continuously telling me to transfer 1650 USD as a processing fee for my work perit papers.

    Sir is this a SCAM or not please give your reply as soon as possible at my email, [email protected]. Also the email id which I use to talk to NLNG people is [email protected].

    Iawait a quick response from your end.

    Thanks
    Manish Verma
    00919934395668

  7. Dr Bashir, 🙂

    your page is amazing, and is very nice you take your time to make Blogs like this. Really helps people. :lol::lol::lol:

    I have a question, u Write that the right web site for the immigration office is:

    http://www.immigration.gov.ng

    anyway.. I cant access that page, Do you thing they canhe it and the new one is this one:

    http://www.nig-immigration-govt.com

    Is the only one I found and that works 😯

    Could you write me an Email please? with your answer I really appreciate your time and your knowleage.

    Nelly

  9. sir,
    i got job offer from RIV OIL NIGERIA PLC.They infomed to contact NIS for workpermit.Nis asking USD1470 FOR workpermit charges.kindly tell us the offer is scam or not?

  10. I wanted to know the detailed info. about NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICES,DR. YUSUF ALI,2nd FLOOR, FED. SECRETARIAT COMPLEX, OWERRI,IMO STATE, NIGERIA.
    As i have got an appointment letter from University of Nigeria Nsukka for the post of SR.ENGINEER LECTURER& they asked me to contact above mentioned person. NIS asked me to pay US$1660 to get my visa from nigeria & other Govt. documents.

    If you have any kind of info. regarding the same pls. inform me .
    Thanks

  11. Dear David
    thanks for creating such wonderful blog to help people to avoid to get in the trouble.
    Recently the same email i got ….to my surprise they first send me an email informing me about a oil company then and send me the work form. after that even without looking at my resume my qulifications they send me the offer letter… claming not to contact to any nigeria immgiration in india…. i will not be answering any of their emails but that was funny to know that company was ready to pay me 3000 pounds per month thats a huge amount !!!

    thanks for creating such blog

  12. hello
    i tried to get a visa to Nigeria. I applied first with an application , then they told me everything has to go over the Internet, however the application site and payment site is not working! It even says ” currently been updated” , but that is since November 2007! wehn are they gonna fix this site.I tried to apply in Canada..!
    do you have an answer…or does the Nigerian Gov. not want any tourist coming into the country?
    be glad if you can help
    thanks

  14. Thanks David for providing this forum for sharing views.
    This issue of criminals fraudulently misrepresenting sensitive Government agencies and parastatals/Oil Multinationals/Blue Chip private entities, have no doubt assumed damaging proportions.

    Issues that border on immigration I would say require some levels of professional advice and guidance. I would advise intending visitors or Job appointees to properly verify claims by retaining a lawyer[If you are in doubt, visit The Nigerian Bar Association website – http://www.nigerianbar.org], for a listing of lawyers in Nigeria].

    Thanks

  15. dear sir,

    greeting of the day, i have got an offer from a 5* deluxe property (intercontinental hotels groups) NIGERIA for the position of guest relation manager, and i have been asked to contact NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE,
    old fed. secretarial complex area,garki, abuja, NIGERIA.
    CONTACT PERSON:- DR. MICHEAL IZUCHUKWU( HEAD OF VISA)
    pls let me know weather it is right concerned or not.

    thanks
    rajesh trivedi

  16. NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICES
    OLD, FED. SECRETARIAT COMPEX,
    AREA 1 GARKI, ABUJA,
    NIGERIA.
    E-Mail:[email protected]
    tel:+234-805-0461-713

    kindly have a look and confirm me weather it is right concern or not.
    awaiting from ur response.

    thanks
    rajesh trivedi
    +91 9810645114

  17. nigerian immigration services, 2 floor,secretriat complex,p.m.b 1629,owerri,immo state,nigeria
    is this address is correct of nigeria immigration ofice

  18. hello sir i got a mail that iam selected in abia state teaching hospital and they offer 8000 u s dollars and they given the nigerian immigration contact no 234-70-8241-1597 and they given the nigeria immigration email id as [email protected], is this address are correct.

  19. greeting of the day, i have got an offer from a 5* deluxe property (intercontinental hotels groups) NIGERIA for the position of chef, and i have been asked to contact NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE,
    old fed. secretarial complex area,garki, abuja, NIGERIA.
    CONTACT PERSON:- DR. MICHEAL IZUCHUKWU( HEAD OF VISA)
    pls let me know weather it is right concerned or not
    qunaldutta

  20. I had recieved an job offer from MRS. james Gregor Manager, Human REsource Dapartment, Total Petroleum PLC. Nigeria. e-mail: [email protected] c/O Mr. Walter Ford, Manager , Labour Consultancy. E-amil: labourconsultancytotalnig&gmail.com consisting of offer letter & job contract on behalf of Total Petroleum PLC, Nigeria for thier LPG project in Lagos, Nigeria. they need me to contact with labor consultancy office to procure work visa from [email protected] , within four days . after that all expances should be re-imbursable. What do you think it is fake or true?????

  21. Dear sir,
    I have got a mail through intercontinantal hotel which is based on lagoes & the web sit is www. immigrationservicesnig .info & the contact person is Dr michael izuchukwu he is the head of visa/permits operations. As per mail.
    Plz do the needfull as fast as u can…….

  22. I have a similar mail from intercontinental hotels and they are offering a bomb for Salary. Again asking for $ 1200 for visa processing whereas on the official nigerian website the fee mentioned is $42. COntact for Itercontinental hotel is Dr. Brown Hector and for visa processing is Dr Michael. I called up the Nigerian Embassy in India and they said that they will verify the details and get back to me, I have forwarded all the papers to them. I guess you guys can also contact the Nigerian Embassy in India and get the docs verified. I’ll let you guys know if I get a reply from the embassy. However, the IHG website is metioned as fake on this blog itself. So…..enjoy guys and keep applying till you get the real one 😉

  23. Human Resource Manger Mr. Carl Rudlof of Toonak Oil Nigeria Componey has offered me a post of Administrator Officer at Abuja and they asked me to send US $ 1095 to travel express for immegration, residence work permit and visa fees
    Please confirm me is it fake company or real
    Looking Forward for your immediate reply
    Regards
    Asif

  24. By the way, this afternoon, I got a call from a person claiming the he is from the Nigerian Immigration and asked as to when am I going to send my payment. He used this number to call me -+234803779. Is there a way you could track down this number and find out the exact location?Kindly inform me and send me a message. Again, thanks!

  25. Good day!
    I am Joan, 23 years old, and a graduate of BS HRIM from the Philippines. I have received an email from the recruitment office of a certain HOTEL HILSON INTERNATIONAL RESORT stating that I got an offer from the said hotel under the ownership of Sir. Lonel Richard, for the position of Restaurant Supervisor / Manager. I was surprised because I did not send any application to the said company. They sent me an employment letter, and undoubting as I am, I signed it and e-mailed it back to this address – [email protected], believing that it was sent in good faith. The next day, I have received an email from the Nigeria Immigration Service with this address – [email protected] informing me that they have received my documents from Hotel Hilson and that I should fill out the visa form attached in their message and prepare the amount of $280 for the processing and courier charges. Hours after, I received another email from the Nigeria Immigration telling me that I should send my payment immediately through western union to a certain JERRY HARRIS, NIS Processing Manager. At that point, I decided to investigate before sending my payment and I found out that there is no HOTEL HILSON existing in Abia State. Also, the address of NIS –NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION SERVICES,
    2ND FLOOR, FEDERAL SECRETERIAT COMPLEX,
    P.M.B. 38.
    FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, OWEERI
    IMO-STATE.NIGERIA,
    E-mail;–[email protected]
    Tell–+234-805-980 9-757 – is the same address and contact number stated by the people who posted their queries on this site. The reason why I posted all of these here is to let the people of Nigeria or the authorities from Nigeria that this scam does not only happen within your country, but also to the countries in other continents. I am not a greedy person, but just an ordinary folk looking for a decent job to help my family with our daily expenses. I hope that the concerned department or authorities will do everything to crack down on these criminals so as to prevent them from victimizing innocent people. I look forward to your answer on this matter. Just send me an email ([email protected]), and it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!

  26. i have got an offer from a 5* deluxe property (intercontinental hotels groups) NIGERIA for the position of guest relation manager, and i have been asked to contact NIGERIA IMMIGRATION SERVICE,
    fed. secretarial complex, FCT abuja, NIGERIA. PLS LET ME KNOW ITS CORRECT.
    CONTACT PERSON:- DR. MICHEAL IZUCHUKWU( HEAD OF VISA)
    pls let me know weather it is right concerned or not.

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