Findings by the Nigerian Online Media Alliance (NOMA) have uncovered a fraudulent WhatsApp investment scheme in which impostors are posing as the Group Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
According to NOMA’s investigation, the scammers are operating a WhatsApp group named “Value Focus Club 60”, using the phone number +234 915 708 8290 alongside the Chairman’s image to create a false sense of legitimacy. Within the group, misleading investment information is circulated, with attempts to solicit funds from participants under the guise of credible financial opportunities.
The fraudulent activity was initially flagged by a whistleblower, prompting further scrutiny and verification. NOMA’s findings confirm that neither the Chairman nor Access Holdings Plc operates any WhatsApp-based investment platform or provides financial advisory services through such channels.
The development reflects a growing trend in Nigeria’s digital space, where fraudsters exploit trusted institutions and public figures to perpetrate scams. Experts warn that WhatsApp has increasingly become a major channel for such schemes, particularly investment fraud and impersonation tactics designed to manipulate public trust.
NOMA is therefore urging members of the public to remain vigilant and adopt precautionary measures, including:
Disregarding unsolicited investment offers or WhatsApp group invitations
Avoiding the disclosure of personal or financial information
Reporting suspicious numbers and accounts directly on WhatsApp
Notifying relevant authorities of any fraudulent activity
The Alliance further gathered that steps are being taken to report the account and limit its spread, including engagement with platform administrators.
Reaffirming its commitment to ethical journalism and public interest reporting, Nigerian Online Media Alliance emphasized the need for sustained public awareness as digital fraud schemes become more sophisticated.
As Nigeria’s digital economy continues to expand, stakeholders stress that vigilance, media literacy, and timely reporting remain critical in combating the rising wave of online scams.
Access Holdings plc is already taking necessary legal steps to track the fraudsters and deal with them as appropriate, but awareness and exercise of necessary caution is very key to avoid being defrauded.
Please share this with your contacts. Someone you know could be targeted.
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