𝐄𝐅𝐂𝐂 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

By George OPARA

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has swiftly strategized a crackdown on impersonators whose illegal activities — codenamed ‘sting operations’ — are being perpetrated across major cities of the country.

The commission declared this fake operational activity in a statement issued on Tuesday by its Head, Media & Publicity, Dele Oyewale.

The statement explained that several ingenious but fraudulent means are being employed by those described as “dark characters” to besmirch the reputation of the EFCC.

Further, the commission said there is a gang of fraudsters now operating around popular eateries or fun spots in major cities across the nation.

“Their modus operandi is laying ambush for innocent youths coming out of the eateries, harassing them based on unfounded suspicions of being internet fraudsters, and dispossessing them of their valuables.

“These characters usually portray the identities of authentic EFCC officers by dressing in fake uniforms and moving their victims to locations bearing a fictitious resemblance to an EFCC office.

“There is also a gang of itinerant criminals harassing innocent motorists based on the identities of their number plates. These ones wield dangerous weapons to compel their victims to offer them money on trumped-up accusations.

“There is yet another tribe of online impersonators and fraudulent content creators dramatizing fake sting operations of the EFCC with evidence of broken doors, windows, and forced entrance into their premises.

“Such uncharacteristic portrayals of the EFCC could deceive unsuspecting members of the public into holding the commission and its officers liable for the contrived actions of impersonators.”