Nigeria Customs Service issues scam warning as fraudsters use fake auction pages to deceive unsuspecting buyers online. | Source: Guardian NG
Scammers are posing as officials and running fake car auctions online and the Nigeria Customs Service is calling it out. The agency says a circulating social media account is impersonating its officers to sell vehicles that do not exist. It warns the public not to engage, not to send money and to report such pages immediately. The alert reflects a growing pattern where fraudsters exploit interest in seized vehicles to lure victims into paying for deals that are never real.
Nigeria Customs Service Flags Fake Auctions in X (Twitter) Post
The Nigeria Customs Service has raised an alert about fake automobile auctions circulating on social media. The agency made it clear that these posts are not from them and are being used to scam people.
According to Customs, the officer whose image is being shared has nothing to do with any car sales. Scammers are simply using the photo to look convincing and push people into trusting the page.
They are urging the public to avoid these offers completely. Do not make any payments, no matter how good the deal looks. Report the accounts immediately so authorities can take them down.
Customs also reminded people that they do not sell vehicles through random social media pages. Any real updates about auctions or seized cars will only come from their verified platforms: Facebook (Nigeria Customs Service), Instagram (@customsng), TikTok (@customsng), Threads (@customsng), X (@customsng) and their official website (customs.gov.ng).
Scammers are stepping up these tactics. They know people are actively looking for Customs auctions, so they set up fake pages, push tempting prices and pressure people to pay quickly.
The agency keeps its message clear: if the information does not come from its official channels, it is not legit. A clear example is the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission public auction held in 2025, which the agency announced properly across its verified platforms.
