Rated as probably the most innovative group of people on earth today are Fraudsters.

Spread widely in the domain of the professionals was the information that one of the most prominent and successful airlines in Nigeria was recruiting qualified accountants. On investigation by a candidate, he luckily got his break through a reliable phone reference to Adebowale, a relevant official of the airline who kindly volunteered valuable information about the positions that arose because the airline suffered a big fraud that caused some accountants to be fired. To forestall such experience in the future, the airline would consider only candidates with credible, verifiable references.

Adebowale was helpful to the candidate in some other ways. He advised that the applicant be meticulous in preparing his documents before submission and explained the procedures to follow in preparing the needed applications. He was available to be contacted on phone as regularly as the candidate needed. The candidate’s documents could even be emailed to his personal box to be verified before submission. He confirmed that as many as five accountants would be recruited.

At last, the candidate sent his credentials to the specified mail box and a few days later received an invitation to attend an interview at the Abuja office of the airline. To book for his flight from Lagos to Abuja on line, the candidate received by text identification details and booking codes. But he couldn’t get the booking done on line no matter how well he tried. Adebowale remained supportive, asking the candidate not to panic.

At last when all failed, the candidate desperately phoned Adebowale who advised that, given the closeness of interview time, the candidate should book a flight with N35,000 and get reimbursed after the interview. Adebowale talked of a number of candidates who were expected but did not show up even after they were booked on flights to attend the previous interview sessions. The candidate had better quickly pay the 35,000 Naira into the bank account of Kaffy Travel Agency and go straight to meet one Kafayat at the office of the airline who would get him on board the next available flight. After all, the airline would reimburse him with  the airfare.

The candidate deposited the money into the account, retrieved the stamped teller and rushed to the airline’s office. But there was no such name as Kafayat; officials did not know about any interviews for accountants or an Adebowale; and the company had no such booking details the candidate had been sent. In panic the candidate called the telephone number with which he had talked with the Adebowale fellow for two weeks, the phone had been switched off – up to today. At the bank, he was advised that his had become a police case.

And the 35,000 Naira was lost, may be along with that of one hundred or more similar victims.

Please watch out for fraudsters always. Because, to them possibilities are unlimited.

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