The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has disowned a fake LinkedIn account attributed to the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Commission, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta.
The telecoms regulatory agency stated in a release by its Director of Public Affairs, Rueben Muoka, said the account has no affiliation whatsoever with either the NCC or Danbatta.
It noted that it is an account being operated by by fraudulent individuals who may be seeking to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
The Commission therefore admonished the public to be wary of having any dealings with the LinkedIn account.
“NCC has been made aware of a fake LinkedIn account that is being attributed to our Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Umar Garba Danbatta.
“We wish to categorically state that the said LinkedIn account is fake and has no affiliation with the NCC or Professor Danbatta.
“We, therefore, urge the public to be wary of any communication or connection request from this fake LinkedIn account.
“It is being operated by fraudulent individuals, who may be seeking to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
“We wish to use this opportunity to remind the public that it is important to verify the authenticity of any online account, especially when such accounts claim to belong to public figures or organisations.
“We advise the public to only connect with verified and official accounts of the NCC and its officials,” it was stated in the release.
The NCC also threatened taking a legal action against those behind the fake LinkedIn account, if they are caught.
This was as it restated its commitment to protecting the public against online frauds and ensuring a safe online community.
“We take this opportunity to warn those behind this fake LinkedIn account that they are engaging in criminal activities, and we will not hesitate to take legal action against them if they are caught.
“We remain committed to protecting the public from online fraud and ensuring a safe and secure online environment,” NCC added.