Etim Effiong
Akwa Ibom State Government says it has uncovered plans by some fraudsters to use phone messages on COVID-19 relief assistance to dupe unsuspecting members of the public.
A statement from the Commissioner of Information, Ini Ememobong, on Thursday, noted that the discovery followed complaints by residents over unsolicited text messages demanding for their bank details for transfer of COVID-19 relief funds.
The statement, however, warned residents against falling prey to such messages.
It said, “The attention of the State Government has been drawn to complaints by members of the public over phone calls/ text messages demanding for their bank details under the guise of sharing COVID-19 palliatives.
“By this release, government cautions citizens and residents against entertaining such calls/messages from unscrupulous individuals, whose sole aim is to defraud unsuspecting members of the public,” it read.
While warning perpetuators of such acts, the statement maintained it would inform residents through the appropriate government channels of any new palliatives for the people by the state government.
“Government assures every Akwa Ibom people that their interests will always remain paramount and that any further palliative from Government shall be appropriately channelled.
“Perpetrators of this act are hereby warned to desist forthwith as Government will not hesitate to unleash the full wrath of the law on them.”
Recall that the state government had twice officially distributed palliatives to the poorest of the poor in the state since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.