We are not giving N1m to ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ informants – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has disclosed that it has not released any statement on social media assuring a financial reward for anyone with information that could lead to the apprehension of internet fraudsters, generally called Yahoo Boys.

The Commission stated that the “clarification became necessary following phone calls by citizens wanting to cash in on notices in the social media by fraudsters promising a reward of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) for friends, family, and relatives of Yahoo Boys who hand them over to the EFCC.”

One of the announcements with hashtags #EFCC and #beagoodcitizen declared, “If you have a Yahoo Yahoo boy as family, friend or relative, kindly hand them over to us, and get a massive reward of 1million Naira.”

The anti-graft agency, in a statement by the Head, Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, urged the public to disregard the announcements because they are unknown to the Commission.

Uwujaren stated, “Promoters of the hashtags are currently under surveillance and every effort will be made to bring them to justice.

“While the Commission welcomes information that could lead to the arrest of cybercrime suspects, it has no policy of financial reward for such informants.

“The fight against corruption and other forms of economic crime is a patriotic duty and Nigerians are encouraged to embrace it with altruism.

“The whistleblower policy of the Federal Government, which the Commission is among the agencies saddled with its implementation is applicable only to public sector corruption.

“The public is warned that the Commission will not be responsible for anyone who falls for this obvious scam.”