The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has alerted its personnel to a fraudulent notice circulating on WhatsApp, warning that scammers are attempting to harvest officers’ personal and service details under the guise of the 2026 senior promotion exercise.
The Corps, in an official disclaimer on Monday, disowned the notice, which directs personnel to submit their full names, service numbers and present ranks to a designated WhatsApp number, 08031306693.
It described the purported directive as fake, stressing that neither the NSCDC management nor its National Public Relations Office issued the instruction.
The warning comes amid concerns over the growing use of unofficial communication channels by fraudsters to exploit personnel seeking career advancement, particularly during promotion exercises.
In the disclaimer, signed by the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant of Corps Babawale Afolabi, the Corps urged officers and men to disregard the message and avoid disclosing sensitive service information to unverified individuals or platforms.
It cautioned that the fraudulent request could expose personnel to identity theft, impersonation and other forms of financial or administrative fraud.
The NSCDC clarified that all official matters relating to promotions fall within the jurisdiction of the Secretary to the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB)
It added that legitimate promotion-related information is communicated through established administrative channels of the Ministry of Interior and the Corps, rather than through unsolicited WhatsApp messages or personal telephone numbers.
The Corps, therefore, advised personnel to verify all promotion-related information through their appropriate command structures and official administrative channels before acting on any purported directive.
The disclaimer urged officers and men to remain vigilant and ensure that the warning receives wide publicity to prevent unsuspecting personnel from falling victim to the scheme.
The development highlights the vulnerability of internal administrative processes to impersonation and fraud, particularly where career progression and promotion opportunities are involved.
For security personnel, the Corps stressed, the safest approach is to treat unsolicited requests for service records and personal information with suspicion and rely exclusively on officially authorised communication channels.
