How To Identify Admission Scammers Online

Amidst this Corona outbreak, there are thousands of admission scammers waiting to capitalise on the gullibility of some admission seekers. On social media, especially on Facebook, these 'helpers' supposedly help aspiring candidates gain admission or help them upgrade their UTME scores. I know someone who was defrauded of N90,000 (Ninety Thousand Naira) last year in the name of admission help. Another one sounded so genuine and offered to help a young girl if only she can accept his sexual advances. Let's take a look at how one can easily identify them on Facebook. 

1. NEW PROFILE:

Most scammers on Facebook have an account which is usually not up to 3 months. Though there exist some which are up to a year. However, most of them are usually novel accounts. 

2. USE OF PROFESSIONAL USERNAME:

The names of those scammers usually sound too formal to be true — names like Frank Williams, Adetola Johnson, Harry Wise, Michael Davids etc. If someone claims to help you secure admission with such names, you could be on the verge of being scammed if you eventually co-operate. 

3. ENGLISH PROFICIENCY:

Imagine someone claiming to be a Professor at UNN, OAU, ABU, etc. typing like a secondary school student. In fact, if Corona virus could be transmitted online, such online "professors" will infect millions. Run for your life if you see one with this sign. 

4. NUMBER OF GROUPS:

Prof. Michael will tell you he is a lecturer at the University of Calabar, but you will find him in the groups of University of Maiduguri, University of Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Abuja, etc.

5. PROFILE PICTURES:

The nature of their profile pictures is that of people working in an office. On their mobile uploads, you will find not more than 10 different pictures, and they usually duplicate their profile pictures. 

In conclusion, no lecturer will be begging you with an admission online, they are too busy for that. This article is mainly for those candidates who are fresh graduates from secondary school. Beware of such people online. Please add yours if you know of any ways to identify such people.