The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, warned Nigerians on Wednesday about a scammer using a phone number to impersonate him on WhatsApp.
In a statement, Segun Tomori, the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, clarified that Dr. Alake is not connected to the phone number being misused on the platform.
“The attention of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has been drawn to a phone number being used by a scammer, purporting to be the minister on the popular social media platform, WhatsApp.
“The fraudster operating with the contact number +234 707 743 7582, bearing the image of Dr. Alake, is not associated with the minister, his aides, or anyone in the minister’s office.
“This is the handiwork of an impostor. The Minister urges the public to disregard any correspondence or communication supposedly from him through the said contact number,” the statement read.
The minister urged Nigerians to disregard any communication from the number, saying the matter has been reported to security agents to apprehend the culprit.