Beware: Fake FAO Job Scam Targeting Nigerians 

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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