The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested a 32-year-old blogger, Augustus, for allegedly cloning the agency’s official website and advertising a fake recruitment exercise to deceive Nigerians.
DSS operatives tracked and apprehended the suspect on Thursday at his residence on Akpan Eno Lane in Abak, Akwa Ibom State. Augustus, a graduate of the University of Uyo, was accused of using the cloned website to mislead unsuspecting individuals.
“Augustus, a native of Abak Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom State, was tracked and arrested by our operatives on Thursday at his residence. 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,” a DSS source revealed.
Fake Recruitment Notice Exposed
The DSS discovered the fraudulent activity after the fake recruitment notice began circulating online. The agency quickly flagged the post as false and issued a public warning to Nigerians to avoid falling victim to the scam.
“Members of the public are advised to be vigilant and report suspicious activities. The DSS is not currently conducting any recruitment exercise. This fraudulent notice is a clear attempt to deceive and exploit innocent citizens,” the DSS stated.
An anonymous source further emphasized the seriousness of the case, saying, “One Augustus was arrested on Thursday at his residence. His actions were aimed at defrauding the public.”
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Suspect to Face Charges
The DSS confirmed that Augustus would soon be arraigned in court to face charges related to his alleged crimes. The charges are expected to include cloning a government website and attempting to defraud Nigerians.
The agency also reiterated its commitment to protecting citizens from fraud and ensuring that individuals involved in such acts face the full weight of the law.
Public Reaction
The news of Augustus’s arrest has drawn mixed reactions from Nigerians. Some have expressed relief that the DSS acted swiftly to prevent more people from falling victim to the scam. Others called for stricter penalties for cybercrimes to deter similar incidents in the future.
A concerned resident of Abak, who requested anonymity, said, “It’s shocking that someone from our community would engage in such fraudulent activities. I hope justice is served, and this sends a strong message to others.”