By Our Correspondent

National News – The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has issued a strong nationwide warning on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, alerting Nigerians about rising recruitment scams targeting job seekers across the country.

The commission said fraudsters are impersonating its officials, using WhatsApp messages, emails, and phone calls to offer fake employment opportunities.

According to PenCom, the scammers pressure victims with a 48-hour deadline to submit sensitive personal information such as identity documents and personal records to a fake ‘secretary’.

The agency further warned that some criminals even impersonate the Director-General to appear credible.

PenCom advised the public to delete suspicious messages immediately and avoid sharing confidential data through unofficial channels.

The commission stressed that all legitimate recruitment processes are communicated only through official platforms.

It also noted that Nigeria’s pension assets continue to grow despite fraud threats, reaching about ₦29.43 trillion as of February 2026.

Citizens are urged to verify every job offer through official PenCom communication channels and avoid responding to unsolicited recruitment messages.

Experts say the increasing sophistication of digital scams highlights the need for stronger cyber awareness among job seekers, especially graduates and young professionals.

The key takeaway is vigilance, as fraudsters exploit urgency and unemployment pressure to steal identities and financial information.

PenCom reiterated that no recruitment exercise requires WhatsApp submission of confidential documents.