NUPRC alerts Nigerians to AI-generated fake employment letters, says no recruitment ongoing
By Aboki Forex —
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has raised the alarm over fraudulent employment letters, some generated with artificial intelligence, bearing its name. The commission says criminal groups are demanding money from job seekers with false promises of positions at the regulator.
NUPRC spokesperson Eniola Akinkuotu confirmed in a statement on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, that the commission has reported the matter to law enforcement and is awaiting the outcome of an investigation.
Scammers using AI to fake letters
According to the commission, the fraudsters approach Nigerians searching for work and offer to help them secure jobs at NUPRC. They then demand payment for the supposed assistance, using the fake letters to make the scam look credible.
The statement warned that some of these letters are generated using artificial intelligence, making them harder to detect.
"While the NUPRC has reported the activities of these criminal elements to law enforcement agencies and awaits an outcome of investigation, members of the public are advised to be circumspect so they don't fall victim," the statement read.
No active recruitment at NUPRC
The commission said there is no active recruitment exercise at NUPRC at this time. Any future hiring will follow a formal process conducted strictly in line with existing laws and federal government regulations.
Nigerians have been urged to treat any unsolicited job offer or communication claiming to be from NUPRC with suspicion, particularly any that involves payment.
Oil regulators under fraud attack
This is not the first such warning from a Nigerian petroleum regulatory body. In February, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority issued a similar alert, clarifying that it was not carrying out any form of employment at any level.
NMDPRA said the fraudulent activity bore the hallmarks of organised fake recruitment syndicates operating specifically to defraud job seekers.
The NUPRC incident follows that pattern, pointing to broader targeting of Nigeria's petroleum sector regulators by fraud networks exploiting the high demand for government and agency jobs.
Meanwhile, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission recently dismissed a viral social media message claiming it was secretly recruiting new personnel. The anti-graft agency warned Nigerians against believing or sharing that claim.
For job seekers, the message is clear: any offer that demands payment in exchange for a government or agency job is a red flag. Fraudsters are now using AI tools to make their fake documents more convincing, so verification through official channels is essential before acting on any recruitment notice.