Job scammers dupe victims of N765m in Delta, five nabbed
By Nosa Àkeñzua
Syndicates of job racketeers in Delta State have ripped off hundreds of unsuspecting employment seekers to the tune of an estimated eye-popping N765 million, leaving a trail of tears, anguish and sorrow among victims.
Reliable sources told The Daily Times that not a few of the victims had committed suicide.
Investigations revealed that the job scammers had in the last two years zeroed in their operations on Asaba, the state capital; Sapele, Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Burutu, Bomadi, Patani and other cities.
Armed with employment forms, printed letter-head papers that go for N50,000 each,they usually deploy smartly dressed agents who possess the gift of smooth talk.
Agents of the scammers are,more often than not, seen hanging around strategic locations in cities where they routinely hand out fliers, some with bold inscriptions “Job opportunities”.
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In some cases, the syndicates hire young ladies with disarming dress sense to distribute the hand bills in various streets of Asaba, Ibusa, Okpanam metropolis.
In Asaba, for instance, the racketeers are seen in a popular local hotel (name witheld) located behind the Asaba Township Stadium where the unsuspecting job seekers are interviewed after meeting stipulated financial obligations.
Among the jobs said to be available are marketing jobs from where,the victims are told,that they could gross several millions of Naira.
Expectedly, many desperate,but unemployed persons, have been duped while the females, especially the beautiful ones among them, are persuaded to pay in kind,aside cash payments, before being handed fake employment forms to fill.
Further investigation revealed that these agents of darkness are on daily basis making fortunes from desperate job seekers, many of whom are ready to do anything so long as they get jobs to make a living for themselves and their families.
Sources alleged that the scammers have letter-head papers with logo seals which tend to give credibility to them and offers,at first sight, a perception that their job placements were genuine.
In Ughelli metropolis, Sapele, Burutu, Bomadi, Patani, and others, there has been huge outcry when job seekers finally discover that they have been ripped off,with no prospect whatsoever of their payments being returned.
A victim of the job scam,who lives in Asaba, Mr Philip Membu,told The Daily Times: “I got their fliers and made straight to their location around Anwai road where I met three heavy-looking men that were well dressed.
“After the interview, they gave me forms for N50,000 and I paid but after the days they asked me to resume work, I went as told. To my shocking unfolding drama, the people had disappeared from the location and the office closed.It happened to many of us until we reported to the police.”
But a lady in Ughelli metropolis, Mrs Betsy Mkpolor who spoke to The Daily Times on telephone said: “I lost N150,000 to these fraudsters. Before I knew I was finished, they had disappeared. Ughelli metropolis used to be beehive of activities by these scammers who print hand bills that are distributed to people. The bills even bear their GSM phone numbers.”
Contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Bright Edafe confirmed that the police have arrested five suspects recently.
According to him, upon interrogation,they confessed to the crimes, adding that they will be charged to court on completion of investigation.
Edafe further confirmed that detectives have been put on strategic locations where the scammers are cited.
Also, the State Government, through Secretary to the State Government ( SSG), Dr Kingsley Emu, had in a statement last week, warned residents of the state against patronizing fake employment givers, stressing that the government will not take responsibility fir their nonchalant attitude, should they be duped in the process.
