• The PFIPC saga is a reminder that not every "Federal Government" recruitment or agency online is genuine, and a few simple checks can save you from losing money or personal data
• Fake government job posts often follow the same playbook—from asking for payments to using suspicious websites and rushed deadlines
• TheRadar has compiled a practical checklist every Nigerian job seeker should use before clicking "Apply”

The recent PFIPC saga has once again shown why Nigerians need to slow down before trusting flashy government announcements online.

A man allegedly walked into the Federal Secretariat in Abuja, set up an office, opened a bank account with the Central Bank, and got listed in the national budget for an agency that doesn't exist.

You've probably seen it before. "Federal Government recruitment is now open. Apply before midnight!"

Thousands of Nigerians click without thinking. Some even pay "processing fees." Then the page disappears.

Scammers know one thing: jobs are hard to find.

That's why they copy government logos, create convincing websites and flood WhatsApp, Facebook and Telegram with fake opportunities.

The good news is that most of these fake recruitment posts leave the same clues behind.

Here are five of the biggest ones.

What is PFIPC?

The Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC) is an agency the Nigerian government now says never legally existed. Despite that, it allegedly ran for a while, hired staff, and even had a budget line worth billions of naira.

A man named Adeniyi Adeyemi allegedly presented himself as the Director-General, complete with an appointment letter he claimed came from the Chief of Staff's office.

The Presidency has since called the whole thing a scam and ordered a full investigation.

5 ways to spot fake jobs

1. They ask you to pay before you can apply

This is probably the biggest red flag.

You'll hear things like "application form costs N2,500," "pay for biometric verification," "screening fee," or "portal activation."

Real government recruitment exercises rarely require applicants to pay before applying.

The moment money becomes urgent, your scam radar should switch on.

2. The website address looks strange

Don't just read the logo, read the web address.

A genuine government agency will usually use an official government domain.

One extra letter can be the difference between a real website and a phishing page.

That's exactly why checking the URL matters more than the homepage design.

3. They're rushing you to "apply before midnight"

Pressure is part of the scam. You'll see messages like "only 500 slots left," "portal closes tonight," "forward to 20 people," or "last chance."

Real government recruitment usually comes with publicly announced timelines and official notices. Scammers don't want you to think, they want you to panic.

4. Everything is happening on WhatsApp or Telegram

Be careful when the entire recruitment process happens inside a chat group.

If you're told to join a Telegram channel, message an admin privately, or send your documents through WhatsApp, pause immediately.

Official agencies normally publish recruitment information through their verified websites and recognised communication channels.

A WhatsApp broadcast is not proof of authenticity.

5. The announcement has errors everywhere

Scammers move fast. That's why many fake recruitment posts contain spelling mistakes, inconsistent logos, poor grammar, conflicting dates, fake signatures, and blurry letterheads.

Sometimes the agency's name isn't even written correctly.

These small mistakes often reveal a fake before anything else does.

The PFIPC saga is another reminder that scammers are becoming smarter.

As unemployment remains a major challenge in Nigeria, fake government recruitment campaigns will likely continue targeting hopeful job seekers.

Don't let desperation make the decision for you.

Pause to verify before applying.

Because the best opportunity is the one that's actually real.

7 red flags that expose AI-disguised malware scams before they empty your business account

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier compiled 7 warning signs that can help you avoid fake downloads, phishing emails, malicious browser extensions, and counterfeit AI websites.

AI-themed malware scams are rising fast, and cybercriminals are using fake AI tools to trick Nigerian businesses into infecting their own devices.

Simple habits like verifying websites, enabling multi-factor authentication, and keeping software updated can dramatically reduce your risk.