Beware: Fake FAO Job Scam Targeting Nigerians
Confidence UbaniMarch 12, 20252 Mins read3k 
A concerned Nigerian has raised the alarm over a fraudulent job recruitment scheme impersonating the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The recruitment scam seems to be circulating in Nigeria to lure unsuspecting job seekers into paying for a fraudulent certification.
The scam begins with an unsolicited email offering a job in varying positions at FAO Nigeria.
You will think so hard about when you applied for it or where you filled your details. But you won’t remember. That is because you didn’t, @Jhaammyyy shared via X platform.
The email claims the recipient’s profile meets the job’s criteria and asks them to confirm interest by replying. It promises an annual renewable contract in Abuja with a monthly salary of $3,336.17.
The scammer would claim that upon receiving the candidate’s confirmation, as well as that of other suitable candidates, they would proceed with the selection process and notify only the selected candidates. They would also state that if the candidate wanted their information and professional profile updated in their files, they should attach their latest CV to the email along with their confirmation.
While the email appears legitimate, several red flags expose it as a scam:
1. UN jobs are only processed through official platforms and job offerings are obtainable through https://careers.un.org/ and https://www.fao.org/employment/en for the FAO.
2. FAO has issued warnings about similar job scams and urged job seekers to apply caution.
3. The email lacks a proper country code in its contact details, a common sign of fraud.
4. It falsely lists “Elliot Murray” as an FAO HR specialist, but no such official exists.
Once a recipient expresses interest, they receive a follow-up email congratulating them on their selection. However, to complete the hiring process, they are required to provide two training certificates – BSAFE and GENDIQ. While BSAFE is a legitimate and free UN security training, a $99 payment is required for GENDIQ certificate via a newly created website.
While the GENDIQ certification appears to be a legitimate professional credential, there have been reports of scam emails or fraudulent communications using certification names to lure job seekers into paying for courses or sharing personal information.
Several other Nigerians on social media have also reported receiving similar scam emails impersonating the FAO. Job seekers are advised to verify UN job postings through official FAO and UN websites and be cautious of any recruitment process that mandates payment.
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Thanks Ubani, we really appreciate your efforts. Keep it up! May God continue to expose evil doers.
Thank you so much. I just finished the BSAFE course and was going through on how to register for the GENDIQ course . Boom! I found your post. Ahhh Thank God. Thank you so much.
Same here
Thanks alot, my friend have recently received a similar mail with the same information you shared, but he haven’t yet provide the certificate they inquire as he asked me to help him with it.
Once again thanks alot.
thats my exact story my sister , i just stumbled upon this blog while trying to register for the GENDIQ
Have gone far oooo God. this is a eye opener
Thanks for this info, infact i got the same mail and mine was from Emilio Fernandez, but fact checking i saw he was a mexican film maker and is late.
I got similar email too I’ve done the bsafe. I wanted to do the gendiq as well but while I was trying to get more information about it I stepped on this post. Thank you for saving me.
I also got the email from them recommending one Bsafe and Gendiq course that I would pay
I have gotten the mail too thanks for the information.i have even send them with the filled appointment letter and Bsafe certificate since I cannot pay for the Gendiq certificate
I was pleased to receive the congratulatory email today. While researching the authenticity of the job, I came across this write-up. Thank you!
Thank you so much, Confidence. You just saved my brother 154k. Ah, this person is really a inteligent thief scammer… Everything seemed so real… na from this https://deimaster.com/courses/my-courses them want reap person
Thank you so much I have received such email too. Just that the sender for me was James Owen
Thank you so much for this information. I fall victim of receiving the email that I was selected and an appointment letter was sent to me. I have gotened the BSAFE certificate, I began to think about how I could get the GENDIQ certificate.
Same email was sent to me also, but the name of the HR FATIMA KHAN. Was about to embrace and Embark on the process of registering the Bsafe and Gendiq courses, until i came across this message. Thanks for the eye opener.
I was also wondering how can someone who is an applicant register for a course with $300 before giving the job…May God deliver us all.
Thanks much Dear…I’ve wasted much time attending to the mail till I came to your notice..your info. Really works …I apprexiate.
I got the same email too, but my own was signed by one Bexley Murray! Thanks for your timely help.
Thank you for the update
Or my Good help us and protect to us to the bad evil same thing happen to me
I got the same congratulatory email today, thank you for the information.
Thank you for your information , i was almost about to be victim
Through the findings, I received mine 8 days ago and also received another one 2days ago, have completed the first Bsafe certificate course today, and finding the means to pay for the second course of $300 of GENDIQ.
The sender from FAO is Emily borrows.
It looks so real. I keep wondering how the BSAFE training & certification came from UN portal if the arrangement is fake??? Is the scammer that skillful? The BSAFE Certificate is even issued by a UN person- One Owusu Frimpong, cos I went to search for the name and I followed the identity to my best of knowledge.
I keep wondering why the BSAFE training & Certificate originated from FAO-UN portal if the recruitment is actually fake. My BSAFE Certificate is even signed by one Owusu Frimpong. I checked for the name, and I saw a FAO-UN profile for him. Is the scammer that skillful?
Thank you so much, you have save many, May god bless you.
Oh god!
Look at how the thing looks genuine, I have received a congratulatory mail, and I have fall a victim,
I did BSafe and preparing and responding to active shooter incident all the two are certifications, remain GENDIQ certificate until I came across with this information.
Mine is from Alvin Knox who identified him self as Human resources specialist.
To god be the glory.
I actually fell totally for this scam, I’ve done the BSAFE and the GENDIQ which I paid $99 for. Chaiii
Have you received any response from them after forwarding your acceptance and the certificates to them??
Hmmmm
Thank God I saw your post, i underwent the first process and was desperately going for the second one, only for me to see your post.
Thank you 🙏
Thanks a lot. I had received the same email message recently. I have taken the BSAFE course, passed and obtained the certificate. However, I sent questions to the sender that couldn’t be replied to.. To hell with these scammers!!!
Thank you so much for this great education.
I have recieved the same mail.
Everything you share is just the same.
WOW. I have finished the BSafe certificate remaining gendiq, and then I saw this write up. Thank you and may God bless you.
Nawao, how where they so skilled to arrange the bsafe training and certificate? Wow! We got talented fellows in Nigeria..see what joblessness can cause…
Thank you so much, I received message from these scammers and I am planning to go for Abuja for further directives thank you for saving my transport money and time
Thanks for your findings so far,I got the same mail from Osiris Bonilla requested for the two certificate BSAFE and GENDIQ. So the purpose of this is to sell Course and make personal money.
I have received the same email congratulating me, even sent me the appointment letter,
The sender is: Brucille Blevins
I am a victim too.
I have done with the Bsafe and also pay 150k for the GENDIQ COURSE, I did the course and issue the certificate.
But what I font understand is
Is the money, I pay to Justice Group account using GTBANK..
IM totally confused
Thank you for this information. The sender’s name is Fatima Khan.
Thank God for Chat GPT. Immediately I typed how to get GENDIQ certification for free it showed me this post chai. I almost believed because I have been applying for UN jobs chai
I have gotten the mail too thanks for the information.i have even sent them with the filled appointment letter and Bsafe certificate since I cannot pay for the Gendiq certificate.
see their response Below.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Thank you for your email. Unfortunately, since you have not provided us with a valid GENDIQ certification and tried to deceive the Organization, we may not be able to proceed with your candidacy in this recruitment. Indeed, we are aware that some training providers scam people across Africa quoting the prices for the certification as high as 300 USD, however please be informed that those are scammers and check the prices and the authorized GENDIQ training providers at their official medium channel here. Given the circumstances, we are willing to extend you deadline for providing us with a valid GENDIQ certificate by Sunday, 30 March. If we do not receive proof of you successful completion of the certification, we would unfortunately have to proceed with a different candidate. Please understand our situation here.
Hello please was any link sent to you for the original GENdiq certificate?
I was given a number to call for clarification, 08034923400 this is the number GENdiq gave me oh ,
Thanks for this post. Although I was skeptical about the whole thing owing to the fact that the appointment letter was not signed, and how fast their response came after I indicated interest,. Thanks, dear.
FAO Headquarters: The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) has its headquarters in Rome, Italy.
Human Resources Division: The FAO has a Human Resources Division (CSH).
Director: The current director of the Human Resources Division is Greet de Leeuw.
LinkedIn Profile: You can find Greet de Leeuw’s LinkedIn profile here: https://be.linkedin.com/in/greet-de-leeuw-8b12881
However, I paid $75 and not $300 as some people mention here
I came across this article that there are some fake certificates issued in Nigeria. Has anyone seen this? Is it legit?
https://medium.com/@gendiq/beware-of-fake-gendiq-certificate-providers-how-to-verify-your-certificate-ef1d493a3b5e
Thank you for this. My gut feeling is, this is a scam. I never remembered applying for such a position.
Wow I keep wondering how on earth will you be paid about more than $3,000 per month, my mind wasn’t okay with it at all… Well thank God I came across this update. Thank you so much
I saw the ad on IG reel and filled, they sent a message yesterday with the same info yuu wrote about and I just decided to Google it. Thanks for this….this time mine was signed by Fatima Khan… 😂