EU Disowns Fake West Africa Compensation Scheme, Warns Against Fraudulent Claims

The European Union (EU) has warned members of the public against a fraudulent compensation scheme claiming to help individuals recover funds allegedly trapped in banks across West Africa.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS dismissed as false a document circulating online alleging that the EU, in partnership with the World Bank, had launched a compensation and recovery programme for affected individuals.

The delegation categorically denied any involvement in such an initiative, describing the claims as a scam designed to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

According to the EU, fraudsters also falsely used the names of senior European officials, including the Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union, Thérèse Blanchet, and the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, to lend credibility to the fake scheme.

It added that the email addresses and telephone numbers attributed to the officials were fabricated and had no connection with the European Union.

The delegation urged the public to disregard the fraudulent claims and refrain from engaging with anyone promoting the fake programme.

It advised individuals seeking information about EU programmes to rely solely on the EU’s official website and verified social media platforms for authentic updates.

The EU reiterated its commitment to combating misinformation and warned that fraudsters often exploit the names of reputable international organisations to deceive victims into parting with money or personal information.