In a publication on its website on Thursday 8 October, 2020, the Central Bank of Nigeria addressed the issues of fraud that has been circulating in social media circles.
The Bank stated that, “The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has again been drawn to fraudulent messages and videos in social media circles requesting unsuspecting loan seekers and owners of small-scale businesses to apply for loans or investment schemes purportedly facilitated by the Bank.”
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The publication went further to state that while the CBN, indeed, has several development finance intervention programmes from which different categories of businesses have benefited (and still benefiting), it DOES NOT do so through direct interaction with prospective applicants.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there are clearly spelt out procedures for accessing CBN intervention funds, which are disbursed through Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs), such as Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Microfinance Banks (MFBs). The Bank also does not facilitate investment schemes.
“Members of the public, particularly youth and owners of small-scale businesses, are therefore advised to disregard any video or text messages proposing investment schemes or charging them fees on the pretext that their organisations are endorsed by the CBN and therefore would guarantee easy access to CBN loans.
“These videos and messages are fraudulent and anyone who enters into correspondence with those behind them does so at his or her own risk. The CBN has neither appointed nor accredited any organisation to serve as agent on its behalf for the purpose of investment or applying for intervention loans” – CBN circular.
Prospective applicants are therefore advised to approach their respective banks, NIRSAL, Micro-Finance Bank or the CBN branch nearest to them for clarification on the procedure for accessing any of the CBN-related facility.
The Bank went on to encourage the public to contact the CBN on +234 70 0225 5226 or send an email to contactcbn@cbn.gov.ng for any further clarification.
By; Nnamdi M.
