NOMA Raises Alarm Over WhatsApp Scam Impersonating Access Holdings Chairman
By The People’s Voice Nigeria News
The Nigerian Online Media Alliance (NOMA) has raised the alarm over a fraudulent WhatsApp investment scheme in which impostors are posing as Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the Group Chairman of Access Holdings Plc, to deceive unsuspecting members of the public.
Findings by NOMA revealed that the scammers are operating a WhatsApp group named “Value Focus Club 60,” using the phone number +234 915 708 8290 alongside the Chairman’s image to create a false sense of legitimacy. Within the group, misleading investment information is circulated, with attempts to solicit funds from participants under the guise of credible financial opportunities.
The fraudulent activity was initially flagged by a whistleblower, prompting further scrutiny and verification. NOMA confirmed that neither Aig-Imoukhuede nor Access Holdings Plc operates any WhatsApp-based investment platform or provides financial advisory services through such channels.
The development highlights a growing trend in Nigeria’s digital ecosystem, where fraudsters exploit trusted institutions and prominent individuals to perpetrate scams. Experts warn that WhatsApp has increasingly become a major channel for such schemes, particularly investment fraud and impersonation tactics designed to manipulate public trust.
NOMA is urging members of the public to remain vigilant and adopt precautionary measures, including disregarding unsolicited investment offers or WhatsApp group invitations, avoiding the disclosure of personal or financial information, reporting suspicious numbers and accounts directly on WhatsApp, and notifying relevant authorities of any fraudulent activity.
The Alliance also disclosed that steps are being taken to report the account and limit its spread, including engagement with platform administrators.
Reaffirming its commitment to ethical journalism and public interest reporting, NOMA emphasized the need for sustained public awareness as digital fraud schemes become increasingly sophisticated.
As Nigeria’s digital economy continues to expand, stakeholders stress that vigilance, media literacy, and timely reporting remain critical in combating the rising wave of online scams.
