Public Warned Against Scam Using EU, World Bank Names to Defraud Victims

The European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS has disowned a purported compensation programme claiming to offer financial relief to victims whose funds were allegedly trapped in banks and financial institutions across West Africa. The Delegation described the document circulating online as entirely fake and warned the public against falling victim to the scam.

According to the EU, the fraudulent document falsely claims to have originated from the Secretary General of the Council of the European Union, Ms. Thérèse Blanchet. It also alleges the existence of a non-existent EU-World Bank-assisted recovery programme designed to compensate individuals affected by alleged fraudulent fund transfer practices in Africa.

The fake document further claims that the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS has been mandated to supervise the compensation process and instructs supposed beneficiaries to contact him to claim their payments. However, the EU said no such programme exists and that neither the European Union nor the World Bank is involved in any initiative of that nature.

The Delegation stressed that all the claims contained in the document are false and intended to deceive unsuspecting members of the public. It also revealed that the email addresses and telephone numbers listed as those of Ms. Blanchet and the EU Ambassador are fake and belong to fraudsters behind the scheme.

The EU urged citizens to remain vigilant and avoid responding to any messages, emails or phone calls requesting personal information or payments in exchange for compensation. It warned that scammers often exploit the names of reputable international organisations to gain public trust.

The Delegation advised members of the public to rely only on its official website and verified social media platforms for authentic information about its programmes and activities. It reiterated its commitment to combating misinformation and protecting citizens from fraudulent schemes.