Victims count losses as fake Customs vehicle auctions spread online
Owning a car in Nigeria is more than a status symbol—it’s a practical necessity for work, family life, and daily mobility. But for many Nigerians seeking to buy vehicles at discounted rates through government auctions, that dream has turned into a costly nightmare. Rampant fraudsters now clone the Nigeria Customs Service website and other official-looking platforms to swindle unsuspecting buyers. CHIJIOKE IREMEKA investigates the operations of these deceitful syndicates
When Lagos-based trader Jude Abbass decided to take advantage of a Nigeria Customs vehicle auction, he believed he had found a great deal. But instead, he ended up losing N125,650 to fraudsters.
The 51-year-old father had no idea he was walking straight into a scam. Unknown to him, fraudsters had cloned the official Nigeria Customs e-auction platform, using it to defraud unsuspecting buyers.
The scammers had advertised two vehicles that caught Abbass’ eye: a 2008 Toyota Highlander listed at N5m and a 2012 Toyota Camry for N4.5m.
According to Abbass, the vehicle prices were lower than market value—but not so low as to immediately raise suspicion. Still, he ended up caught in a carefully crafted web of deception.
“The prices looked attractive and a bit unreal. I told the self-acclaimed NCS agent as much, but he reassured me they were auction prices,” he recalled. “That explanation eased some of the doubts I had.”
The fake website appeared convincing. It featured photos of supposed Customs officers, the official NCS logo, and a list of seized vehicles—everything designed to look legitimate.
After expressing interest in the two vehicles, Abbass was sent a form to fill out for vehicle allocation, requiring him to submit personal information. Once completed, he was instructed to make a payment for “maintenance and documentation” before the cars would be released to him.
He, however, sensed that something was amiss when the supposed Customs agent sent him a personal bank account rather than an official account. Still, he went ahead to make payment, having been wrongly convinced by the outlook of the fake NCS auction platform.
Abbas said, “Before I made the transfer, the agent explained that the N125,650 would be used to service the car, change the oil, and secure Customs documents that would allow the vehicle to move freely without harassment from security agencies,” he said.
“The scammer also claimed the amount would be deducted from the total cost of the vehicle at the point of delivery. I was even told to bring my mechanic on delivery day for a test drive.”
He told our correspondent that all the details he was given made the transaction appear genuine. Convinced by the presentation, and reassured that he wasn’t being asked to pay the full amount upfront, he decided to proceed.
Recalling the moment, he said, “To my greatest surprise, after I made the payment, I couldn’t reach him again. He blocked me on both WhatsApp and Facebook. The whole transaction started and ended within two days—and just like that, I lost my money.”
“What hurt me the most wasn’t even the money itself, but the fact that the scammer outsmarted me.”
In a similar development, a private school teacher in Lagos, Sebastin Igwe, also fell victim to fraudsters after engaging in what he believed was a legitimate vehicle auction on Facebook.
The young father of two was enticed by the promise of affordable, auctioned vehicles, unaware that he was walking step-by-step into a well-orchestrated scam.
“I saw a professionally designed platform with a so-called ‘verification system’ where buyers could ‘confirm’ car listings. I had no idea it was all fake,” he said.
As a prospective buyer, Igwe contacted one of the displayed numbers. What followed was a smooth-talking agent who guided him through the list of available vehicles, payment instructions, and supposed delivery timelines.
“It felt genuine,” he recalled. “The agent, who turned out to be a scammer, sent me scanned documents stamped with what looked like NCS seals and kept me updated via WhatsApp with pictures of the car.”
Igwe chose a 2010 Toyota Corolla, which was allegedly being auctioned for N2.2m.
“I was pressured to pay quickly before the car would be reassigned to another buyer,” he explained. “So, I made a transfer of N89,300 through a public Point-of-Sale terminal, which was tagged as an ‘auction fee,’ after filling out a form.”
But the bubble burst shortly after. The entire exchange came to an abrupt end.
“My calls were ignored. My heart began to race. I just couldn’t accept the reality that I had been duped,” he lamented.
According to Igwe, what troubled him more than the scam itself was the level of indifference he allegedly encountered when he reached out to the real Nigeria Customs Service for help.
He said officers at the Ogun State Command told him there was nothing they could do, pointing out that the NCS had repeatedly warned the public about fake websites. They insisted the Service was not responsible for verifying platforms outside its official domain.
Igwe expressed his frustration, arguing that by failing to prosecute cybercriminals or protect its brand identity, the NCS was indirectly enabling a growing black market of fraud.
He lamented that many Nigerians pour their life savings into what they believe are legitimate transactions, only to end up devastated—no car, no refund, and no justice.
“Until the NCS begins to treat online auction fraud with the seriousness it deserves, more Nigerians will continue to fall victim to schemes that are entirely preventable with proper oversight and accountability,” he added.
Seizure, auction rights
Part XXXI of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, titled “Seizure, Forfeiture and Condemnation,” empowers the Nigeria Customs Service to seize and auction vehicles and other goods confiscated in the course of its operations.
Section 245 (1–2) of the Act states: “An officer, or any other person authorised in that behalf by the Service, may at any time seize or detain anything liable to forfeiture under the Customs and Excise laws, which such officer or person has reasonable grounds to believe is so liable.
“Anything seized or detained under the Customs and Excise Law shall, without delay, be delivered into the care of the Service and, subject to the provisions of this Part and the Schedule to this Act, shall, pending a decision on its forfeiture or disposal, be dealt with and, if condemned or deemed to have been condemned as forfeited, disposed of in such manner as the Service may direct.”
Furthermore, Section 275(2) clearly stipulates: “Any sale of goods arising from the operation of this Act, or under any other Customs and Excise law, shall not be sold at a price less than the duty payable for such goods. Other Customs duties and levies on such goods may be recovered through auction or as directed by the Board.”
In line with this mandate, Saturday PUNCH gathered that in 2024 alone, the Customs Service seized 397 vehicles valued at N5.64bn, as part of efforts to enforce import regulations and safeguard government revenue.
These seizures, the Service said, were part of broader anti-smuggling operations, which also resulted in the confiscation of goods with a Duty Paid Value of N25.52bn between January and June 2024.
This information was contained in a performance report marked NCS/PR/SP/S.582/017/24/Vol I, issued by the Chief Superintendent of Customs and National Public Relations Officer for the Comptroller General of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada.
The report, titled “Mid-Year Performance Report of the Nigeria Customs Service,” states: “From January to June 2024, the NCS made 2,442 seizures with a DPV of N25,520,652,942.87, which represents a 203 per cent increase compared to the first half of 2023.
“In the second quarter of 2024 alone, the NCS recorded 1,334 seizures valued at N17.56bn, reflecting a 121 per cent increase over the first quarter. Items seized included wildlife products, vehicles, arms and ammunition, foreign rice, pharmaceuticals, and narcotics. Thirty-two suspects are currently in custody.”
Saturday PUNCH further learnt that while the Customs e-auction is typically conducted once a year, fraudsters have capitalised on this period to perpetrate elaborate scams, duping unsuspecting Nigerians through fake auction platforms.
Online scammers’playbook
Following interview with victims, Saturday PUNCH undertook an undercover investigation into the fraudulent online vehicle auction racket to expose the individuals and tactics behind it.
Our correspondent discovered several fake social media pages masquerading as official Nigeria Customs Service vehicle auction platforms. Posing as a prospective buyer, the reporter contacted the operators of these pages.
One such page redirected our correspondent to a WhatsApp. Shortly after initiating contact, the correspondent received a message that read:
“Thanks for messaging Nigeria Custom E-auction of Vehicles and Goods. Which of the vehicles are you interested in purchasing? Quickly place your orders now. We deliver nationwide. The auction will end soon.”
When our reporter inquired about a 2012 Highlander Jeep, the scammer quoted a price of N4m. Upon being questioned about the unusually low price, he replied that it was the official auction rate.
After expressing interest, the scammer sent a document titled “NCS Vehicle Registration Details” and requested the following personal information: full name, residential address, local government area, state of origin, Date of Birth, email address, phone number, occupation, and next of kin.
Once the form was completed and returned, the scammer sent a private bank account embedded in a well-designed payment slip meant to give the illusion of legitimacy.
Noting that the account belonged to a private individual—an anomaly in any government-sanctioned transaction—our correspondent expressed concern and asked for an alternative, pretending the transaction was not going through.
To extract more information, the reporter specifically requested an Opay or other fintech account, knowing that such platforms are often directly tied to verified phone numbers, which could aid in identifying the scammer.
Initially, the fraudster resisted, saying: “No other account detail is approved for the transaction, but let me ask the accounts department to approve another.”
The conversation took place at night, a time when no legitimate government office would be active. Yet, within minutes, he sent another bank account.
“Someone just made a payment of N3m into the same account. I wonder why yours is bouncing back,” he added, trying to create a false sense of urgency and legitimacy.
At that point, our correspondent had gathered sufficient information and moved on to investigate another fraudulent platform.
Next, Saturday PUNCH uncovered another fraudster, who claimed to be operating from the Ogun State Division of the Nigeria Customs Service.
Like others, he employed the same deceptive tactics—but with a more refined and convincing strategy that could easily trap unsuspecting buyers.
The scammer was contacted through a Facebook page that redirected users to his WhatsApp number. There, he explained that his operation followed a “balance payment on delivery” model.
“You are to pay N100,000 for maintenance and Customs papers. The balance will be paid upon delivery. These are direct tokunbo vehicles—first body, buy and drive,” he said.
He further elaborated: “We’ll handle complete Customs clearance and duties, including the bill of lading, car purchase agreement, certificate of ownership, vehicle insurance documents, proof of ownership certificate, etc.
“All will be processed using your details before delivery, and that’s what the N100,000 is for. When you receive your vehicle, you’ll deduct that amount from the vehicle’s total cost and then pay the remaining balance.”
However, when our correspondent requested an on-site inspection before making any payment, another layer of fraud surfaced.
“For pre-delivery inspection, you must provide your National Identification Number, Tax Identification Number, and Inspection Report—this process costs an additional N155,000, which is also deductible upon delivery,” he claimed.
He continued: “If you’re coming to the terminal to pick up your vehicle, you’ll need to pay 6.5% of the vehicle’s total cost. That covers auction fees and the bidding process. It’s not an extra charge—it’ll be deducted from the balance.
“Once you’ve paid, you’ll receive a message from our headquarters in Abuja confirming your successful bid. Within 72 hours, you’ll get an invitation letter for inspection via email.”
According to him, with the inspection report in hand, the buyer would be allowed to pick up the vehicle immediately after final payment.
“The keys and papers will be handed over by management after signing the auction allocation documents and the third-party certificate. Then the vehicle will be released to you,” he added.
To cement the scam, he sent our correspondent a well-designed payment slip bearing the official NCS logo, requesting a N100,000 payment. But again, the payment was to a personal account:
Further checks confirmed the account holder’s full name.
Saturday PUNCH’s findings uncovered a large-scale digital scam network thriving alongside the genuine Nigeria Customs e-auction platform—one dangerously powered by public ignorance and weak enforcement mechanisms.
NCS disowns unofficial auction channels
The Nigeria Customs Service has consistently disowned all unofficial auction platforms and warned the public to steer clear of any such fraudulent schemes.
According to NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, all legitimate vehicle auctions are conducted exclusively through the Service’s official e-auction portal: auction.nigeriatradehub.gov.ng
Maiwada explained that participation in these auctions requires proper registration using a valid Tax Identification Number and that all payments must be made through government-approved banking channels.
“No Customs officer is authorised to transact on WhatsApp or request payments into personal accounts,” he warned.
“We do not conduct auctions on Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media platform.”
He further stated that the Service had received numerous complaints from victims of auction-related scams, and in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, some arrests had already been made.
“As digital scams grow more sophisticated, Nigerians must be more vigilant,” he urged.“The Customs Service continues to emphasise: if it’s not on our official website, it’s not real.”
Maiwada advised would-be auction buyers to always verify before they buy, stressing that cloned websites and too-good-to-be-true deals are designed to rob innocent Nigerians of their hard-earned money.
Meanwhile, the NCS also issued a warning via its X (formerly Twitter) handle, cautioning the public about scammers impersonating Customs officials and offering fake vehicle auctions through social media platforms and cloned websites.
The public notice, titled ‘SCAM ALERT,’ read:“The Nigeria Customs Service wishes to draw the general public’s attention to the rising number of scammers impersonating Customs officers and falsely claiming to offer auctioned vehicles, goods, or job opportunities.
“These fraudsters operate fake websites, social media accounts, and messaging platforms to deceive unsuspecting individuals into making payments.
“Please be informed: The Nigeria Customs Service does not auction goods or conduct recruitment via social media.
“All official auctions are carried out transparently through verified platforms and in accordance with established procedures.”
“No officer is authorised to receive funds directly from members of the public for auctions, job placements, or any related services.”
The Service urged Nigerians to protect themselves by verifying all information via official channels and reporting suspicious contacts or platforms to the nearest Customs office or the helpdesk.
Scam reg flags – Experts
Digital security experts have warned that fraudsters behind fake Customs vehicle auctions are becoming more sophisticated—using cloned websites, official-sounding language, and fake identities to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians, including educated professionals.
One such expert, Victory Ndukwe, explained that scammers often mimic the branding and tone of legitimate agencies to create a false sense of credibility.
“Even the educated are falling for these scams,” Ndukwe said.
“They copy official websites, use government logos, and offer vehicles at incredibly low prices to lure victims. But the red flags are there.”
He noted that one key indicator is when the prices advertised are far below market value, which is often too good to be true.
He also stressed that legitimate government agencies do not accept payments into personal accounts. Additionally, real auctions are never advertised via WhatsApp, private chats, or personal emails. According to him, genuine Nigeria Customs auctions require participants to register through an official portal and present a valid Tax Identification Number.
“If someone tells you the offer is urgent, or they’re reserving a car just for you, that’s a red flag,” Ndukwe warned. “Scammers thrive on urgency—they pressure victims into making quick decisions, which often leads to costly mistakes.”
He encouraged Nigerians to report suspicious websites, social media accounts, and messages to the Nigeria Police Force’s cybercrime unit and the EFCC.s
Criminal psychologist and security expert, Julius Obuse, said the root of the scam’s effectiveness lies in the widespread economic hardship in the country.
“The idea of buying a car cheaply through a government auction seems like a golden opportunity,” Obuse explained. “But scammers exploit the public’s desperation—made worse by inflation, high transport costs, and steep import duties—to deceive them.”
Obuse added that the illusion of a great deal, when combined with low digital literacy and the general trust in anything bearing a government seal, makes many Nigerians particularly vulnerable.
Ndukwe further observed that the face of fraud is also evolving. “These scams aren’t run only by street-level conmen. Many perpetrators are unemployed graduates who understand tech and psychology. They know how to mimic real systems, manipulate language, and exploit trust.”
Share this post
Facebook
Telegram
Leave a Reply
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Comment *
Name
Website
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Hi! Privacy Policy Agreement
Kindly accept our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy .
Prev
Previous
EFCC Warns Nigerians Over New ‘Promo’ Scam Involving Foreign Airline Discounts, Fintech Accounts
Next
Osun must refund seven month’s LG allocations, AGF tells S’Court
Next
Related Posts
APC chairman l0ses wife
Former Minister to be questioned over at least five suspicious transactions during his time in office.
by our heritage reporter 8 minutes ago 0
There are threats against my l!fe over comments on Nigeria’s economy – Ex-presidential candidate raises alarm
Oshiomhole Urges Peter Obi to Notify Edo Governor Before State Visits
by our heritage reporter 21 minutes ago 0
Police arrest 106 suspects, recover 5,612 ammunition, cartridges in Delta
Police Bust K!dnapping Gang, Arrest Six Suspects, Rec0ver AK-47 Rifles
by our heritage reporter 24 minutes ago 0
37-year-old woman shares p¶inful experience after 12 failed marriages
37-year-old woman shares p¶inful experience after 12 failed marriages
by our heritage reporter 29 minutes ago 0
10 K!lled, 9 !njured As Gunmen Att¶ck Ebonyi Community Meeting In Anambra
Seven k!lled in Imo beer parlour att¶cks
by our heritage reporter 44 minutes ago 0
OUR HERITAGE REPORTERS
We bring you latest information from all around world, ranging from local news, international news, entertainment, lifestyle, culture, politics etc.
Follow us on social media:
