FAKE CHARITY FOILED: 23 Brigade Yola Exposes Phoney “NAOWA Trek” Scam
A supposed “charity event” promising a 10-kilometre trek and celebrating 25 years of the Nigerian Army Officers Wives Association (NAOWA) has been exposed as a fraudulent scheme by Headquarters 23 Brigade in Yola.
The Acting Assistant Director, 23 Brigade Public Relations Officer, Lieutenant Princewill Odoemenam, disclosed this in a press statement made available to Newsmen in Yola on Wednesday.
The statement said that the deceptive banner circulating online called for advertising and sponsorship, claiming to take place from February 8 to 11, 2024, at the Officers Mess in Army Cantonment Yola, is fake. The 23 Brigade has issued a strong warning, declaring the entire event a sham.
They confirmed there is no commandant named AB Gofai, as falsely claimed in the advertisement signed by that name with the phone number 08123497002. Furthermore, no “Captain Jacub BD” exists within the Brigade.
“The dubious advertisement urged unsuspecting citizens to pay for advertising through Firstmonie Wallet and Palmpay account number 8132843616. The 23 Brigade strongly cautioned the public against making any payments to these accounts, emphasising that neither the Brigade nor NAOWA 23 Brigade are associated with this fraudulent scheme.
“We categorically distance ourselves from this fraudulent advertisement and advise the general public to exercise caution and refrain from engaging with any dubious calls for advertising or sponsorship for the aforementioned fake event,” the Brigade stated.
“This attempted scam highlights the growing prevalence of online fraud targeting charitable causes. The Nigerian Army takes such matters seriously and encourages the public to report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.
Be wary of unsolicited charity solicitations online. Always verify the legitimacy of an organisation before donating to or sponsoring any event.
The statement urged people not to make any payments through unconventional channels. Stick to established payment methods and avoid transferring money to personal accounts or mobile wallets.
“Report suspicious activity. If you encounter a potential scam, contact the authorities and warn others to be cautious. By staying vigilant and informed, we can help protect ourselves and others from falling prey to fraudulent schemes like the fake “NAOWA Trek” in Yola.
FAKE CHARITY