The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has raised fresh concern over a growing wave of criminals impersonating its operatives and carrying out fake sting operations in major Nigerian cities, warning the public to be vigilant against increasingly sophisticated scams.
According to the anti-graft agency, intelligence reports show that impostors are targeting unsuspecting Nigerians through coordinated schemes designed to extort money, steal valuables, and damage the image of the Commission. One of the tactics identified involves criminals lurking around eateries and nightlife spots, where they allegedly ambush young people, accuse them of internet fraud without evidence, and dispossess them of their belongings. Some reportedly wear fake EFCC uniforms and move victims to locations falsely presented as Commission offices.
The Commission also warned about another group targeting motorists, stopping vehicles under the guise of investigating number plate identities and using threats, including weapons, to extort money from drivers on fabricated accusations. Authorities described the trend as a dangerous form of organised criminality exploiting the EFCC’s identity for fraud.
Beyond street-level scams, the EFCC also condemned the rise of online impersonators and content creators staging fake “sting operations,” often using dramatized raid scenes involving broken doors and forced entry to mislead the public and falsely portray such acts as genuine enforcement activity. The agency warned that these staged operations risk distorting public perception and undermining confidence in legitimate anti-corruption efforts.
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