The Department of State Services (DSS) has apprehended a 32-year-old blogger, Augustus, for allegedly cloning the agency’s official website and disseminating a fraudulent recruitment notice. The arrest was carried out on Thursday at his residence on Akpan Eno Lane in Abak, Akwa Ibom State.
Augustus, a graduate of the University of Uyo and a self-proclaimed content creator, is accused of creating the counterfeit website to deceive Nigerians into believing that the DSS was conducting a recruitment exercise. According to DSS sources, his actions were aimed at defrauding unsuspecting individuals seeking job opportunities.
“Augustus, a native of Abak Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, was tracked and arrested by our operatives on Thursday at his residence,” a DSS source disclosed. “He claimed to be a graduate of the University of Uyo, a blogger, and a content creator.
Augustus had cloned the DSS website, where he created a fake online recruitment notice, seemingly with the intent to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.”
The agency acted swiftly to debunk the fraudulent notice, issuing a warning to Nigerians to avoid falling victim to such scams. The DSS emphasized its commitment to safeguarding the public from deceitful schemes designed to exploit their trust.
An anonymous source within the agency confirmed the arrest, stating, “One Augustus was arrested on Thursday at his residence. His actions were aimed at defrauding the public.”
The suspect is expected to be arraigned in court soon to face charges related to cybercrime and fraud. The DSS has urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and verify all official communications through authentic channels to avoid being misled.
The arrest highlights the growing threat of cybercrime and the misuse of digital platforms in Nigeria. Authorities continue to warn against fraudulent activities while reiterating their resolve to crack down on offenders exploiting the trust of the public.