The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has warned the public of a fake Instagram account, J. O. Attah Autos, running vehicle auctions and falsely claiming affiliation with the service.

The NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, gave the warning in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Instagram page with the handle @nigeriacustoms001 features discounted pictures of vehicles with a phone number attached, targeting potential buyers unaware of the fraud.

Maiwada described the social media account as fraudulent and an act of impersonation targeting unsuspecting members of the public by using the image of NCS personnel as its profile picture.

"The NCS wishes to state clearly that this claim is false and did not originate from the service.

"The officer whose image is being used is not involved in any car sales on social media, and the account is an act of impersonation intended to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

"Members of the public are strongly advised to disregard such messages, refrain from making any payments, and report the account for further action," he said.

He said the public should rely on the NCS's official communication channels, including its verified social media handles, for accurate and reliable information. (NAN)