Hamidat Ayomide KelaniThe Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the police have warned candidates preparing for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) against patronising fake websites.
They gave the warning at a joint news conference in Abuja on Saturday, 13th April 2024.
The Force Public Relations Officer,Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an assistant commissioner of police, 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, saying the fake web sites were designed to deceive innocent candidates into providing personal details such as registration numbers, email addresses, and phone numbers.
These details are then exploited for malicious purposes.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi and the spokesperson for JAMB, Dr Fabian Benjamin, noted that the emergence of several fake websites created by unscrupulous individuals with the intention of misleading candidates necessitated the joint press briefing.
Adejobi said, “The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and the Nigeria Police Force hereby bring to the attention of the public the ongoing printing of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination Notification Slip which contains vital information such as the date, venue, and time of candidates’ examinations”.
“Both JAMB and the Nigeria Police Force 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,” he said.
Mr Adejobi explained that the force was familiar with the tactics employed by fraudsters, especially during the annual assessment and admission exercises.
He, therefore, said that both organisations was 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.
He also called on candidates to beware of web sites offering ‘live’ questions and answers, as they were false and deceptive, saying that accessing such materials was prohibited.
He further said the board was partnering with the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) to address online scam-related issues seamlessly.
He assured candidates and the public of the force firm dedication to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process.
He also stressed that the Inspector General of Police had ordered the NPF-NCCC to go after scammers and fraudsters who engage in cyber related crimes and create phishing sites/portals.
He also advised candidates to beware of sites offering ‘live’ questions and answers while noting that they are false and deceptive, and accessing such materials is prohibited.
He noted, “The 2024 UTME is scheduled to commence on Friday, April 19, and end on Monday, April 29, 2024. We call on parents, guardians, and the general public to join hands in fostering a culture of integrity and compliance with established guidelines. Together, we can nurture a generation of upright and law-abiding leaders by discouraging fraudulent practices and desperation.
“Furthermore, JAMB is partnering with the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre to address online scam-related issues seamlessly. We assure candidates and the public of our firm dedication to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process. In addition, the Inspector General of Police has ordered the NPF-NCCC to go after scammers and fraudsters who engage in cyber-related crimes and create phishing sites/portals, and cause them to face the full wrath of the law.”
JAMB had on Friday directed all candidates who registered for this year’s UTME scheduled to start next Friday, April 19, to print out the examination notification slip.
The board said the notification slip is ready for the candidates to print out.
