Edith CHUKU
Management of the University of Port Harcourt, UNIPORT, has raised fraud alert over fake social media account of Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Princewill Chike, warning the general public against money request from the account.
The university disowned the Facebook account, clarifying that the VC has no active account on Facebook.
Uniport stressed that the account was unauthorized and that the Vice-Chancellor does not operate an active profile on the platform, urging the public to beware as those behind the account had begun sending messages to unsuspecting individuals in the Vice-Chancellor’s name.
The institution’s Head of Information, Publications and Public Relations, Dr Sam Kpenu, disclosed this in a statement, on Friday.
According to Kpenu, the development was the handiwork of fraudsters seeking to swindle innocent members of the public.
His words: “The attention of the Management of the University of Port Harcourt has been drawn to a fake Facebook account being used to impersonate the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chike Princewill R. Chike.
“The university wishes to categorically state that the Vice-Chancellor does not operate a Facebook account; the account in question is unauthorised, and its operators have reportedly been sending messages to unsuspecting members of the public in his name.
“Members of the public are hereby warned not to fall prey to this fraudulent activity, and should not respond to such messages, send money, disclose personal or financial information, or engage in any transaction with the operators of the account.
“The university dissociates the Vice-Chancellor and management from the account and any activities conducted through it.
“The public is advised to remain vigilant, report the fake account to Facebook, and verify all official information through the university’s recognised communication channels.”
