THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Police, on Saturday, April 13, in Abuja, warned candidates preparing for this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) against patronising fake websites.
While the Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said there were several fake websites created by unscrupulous individuals with the intention of misleading candidates, he urged candidates to be wary of their tactics, noting that the fake web sites were designed to deceive innocent candidates into providing personal details, such as registration numbers, email addresses and phone numbers.
He stated: “Both JAMB and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) condemn these fraudulent activities and hereby reiterate the readiness to safeguard the interests of candidates and maintain the integrity of the examination process.
“We urge parents, guardians and all stakeholders to ensure that candidates print their UTME Notification Slips only from the Board’s approved website: www.jamb.gov.ng.
“Candidates can print their slips from the comfort of their homes or visit any of the over 700 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.”
Adejobi explained that the Force was familiar with the tactics employed by fraudsters, especially during the yearly assessment and admission exercises, saying both organisations were actively sensitising candidates and the public about these deceptive practices.
“Any candidate who visits these fake sites will definitely have unreliable information and thereby miss out in the forthcoming exams.
“Candidates are advised to print their UTME Notification Slips before Friday, 19th April, 2024, to access vital information about their examinations.
“Any website other than www.jamb.gov.ng offering UTME slip printing services is fake and designed to defraud candidates,” he said.
The Police spokesman charged candidates to beware of web sites offering ‘live’ questions and answers, as they were false and deceptive, more so as accessing such materials was prohibited.
He further stated that JAMB was partnering with the NPF National Cyber-Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) to address online scam-related issues seamlessly, assuring candidates and the public of the Force’s firm dedication to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process.
He disclosed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has ordered the NPF-NCCC to go after scammers and fraudsters engaged in cyber-related crimes and create phishing sites/portals.
On his part, JAMB spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, pledged the Board’s commitment to continue playing its role, urging urged candidates to ignore any unsolicited messages, as there were from elements aiming at defrauding candidates.
This year’s UTME is scheduled to commence on Friday, April 19 and end on April 29.
