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The European Union (EU) has disavowed a purported compensation scheme for funds allegedly trapped in West African banks, describing the document circulating online as a scam.
The Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) made the disclaimer in a statement issued in Abuja.
“The attention of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS has been drawn to a fake document purported to have emanated from the Secretary General of the Council of the European Union, Ms Thérèse Blanchet, on a non-existent European Union-World Bank assisted recovery programme for those affected by alleged fraudulent practices in the handling of fund transfers in Africa.
“The said document promises compensation for citizens of Europe and other countries whose legally transferred funds are trapped in banks and other financial institutions across West Africa. It claims that the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS has been mandated to monitor the compensation process and urges claimants to approach him for that purpose.
“This document in its entirety is a scam. The information and claims contained therein are false. The European Union is neither aware of any such bogus programme nor part of it,” the European Union said.
The European Union further stated that the email addresses and phone number provided in the document as those of Ms Blanchet and Ambassador Gautier Mignot were fake and clearly belonged to scammers.
“The Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS urges members of the public to disregard the fake information. The Delegation’s website and social media platforms remain the Delegation’s official channels of communication to the public,” the European Union stated.
