Dare Babalola
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has cautioned Nigerians to be wary of a growing trend of fraudulent job recruitment schemes, warning that unsuspecting individuals are increasingly being targeted by impostors posing as officials of the agency.
In a public notice released on Tuesday via its official X (formerly Twitter) platform, the commission disclosed that scammers are exploiting the desperation of job seekers by falsely claiming to offer employment opportunities within PenCom.
According to the commission, these fraudsters operate through multiple channels, including WhatsApp, emails, and phone calls, where they present themselves as representatives of the agency in a bid to gain the trust of their victims.
PenCom noted that a common tactic used by the perpetrators is to create artificial urgency, often giving short deadlines to pressure individuals into acting quickly without proper verification.
“The scammers often create a sense of urgency, claiming a 48-hour deadline to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information,” the commission stated.
The agency further explained that victims are frequently instructed to forward personal documents, such as identification details and other confidential records, to individuals described as “secretaries” via messaging platforms—an approach it described as a major warning sign of fraud.
In more alarming cases, the commission revealed that some scammers impersonate top officials, including the Director-General, to lend credibility to their schemes and make their offers appear legitimate.
PenCom strongly advised the public to ignore and delete any suspicious messages or emails, warning against engaging with unknown contacts or sharing personal information.
“Do not respond to suspicious WhatsApp messages or emails. Delete them immediately and refrain from sharing them with others,” it cautioned.
The development comes amid intensified efforts by regulatory authorities to combat financial crimes across the country. Recently, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reportedly shut down hundreds of fraudulent investment platforms that had been preying on Nigerians.
Despite the rise in such criminal activities, PenCom highlighted continued progress within the pension sector, noting that total pension assets had grown to ₦29.43 trillion as of February 2026, driven by consistent contributions and improved investment returns.
The commission reaffirmed its dedication to protecting pension funds and urged Nigerians to always verify employment-related information through official and credible channels before taking any action.
