Published in WhatsApp groups, the announcement consists of two pages: one containing information and registration criteria, and the other listing the vehicles intended for sale. According to the announcement: “The procedure involves writing to the customs customer service on WhatsApp at the number 236 74597286, sending an ID, topping up your mobile with the registration fee of 100,000 CFA, and making the payment to this number, with the deadline set for June 14,” the content states.
The General Directorate of Customs and Indirect Taxes Denies the Announcement’s Authenticity
During the last week of May, this announcement emerged on social media and quickly gained traction in the capital. People began to visit the General Directorate of Customs to inquire about the purchasing procedures.
Verification
To verify the authenticity of this announcement, Centrafrique Check contacted Frédéric INAMO, the Director General of Customs and Indirect Taxes, who was on a work mission in Mali. Additionally, we interviewed the Deputy Director General in charge of external services, Daniel NGUEREMI, and reviewed a denial statement signed by him.
Contacted by phone from Mali during his work mission, the Director General of Customs, Frédéric Inamo, responded: “This is purely fake news, organized by scammers to extort money from Central Africans. In fact, there are clues in the announcement that indicate it’s a forgery. The announcement number, my scanned signature, and the forged stamp are all evidence of this.”
The General Directorate of Customs and Indirect Taxes Never Conducts Public Sales
In the same vein, we interviewed the Deputy Director General in charge of external services, Daniel NGUEREMI, who is acting as the interim director: “The customs directorate has never conducted an auction. We were as surprised as everyone else; this is a fake document, a forgery, created by criminals to manipulate the public.”
The General Directorate of Customs and Indirect Taxes issued a denial statement, duly signed on May 31 by the interim Director General, Daniel NGUEREMI, who emphasized that the Director General of Customs, Frédéric INAMO, has been on a work mission abroad since May 18, 2024. Additionally, the Directorate informed the public that this is a fake document and a case of forgery in the name of the institution. They reserved the right to take legal action against this form of fraud, as stated in the denial statement.
Conclusion
The announcement shared in WhatsApp groups, claiming that the General Directorate of Customs and Indirect Taxes is conducting a vehicle auction, is false and fraudulent, as verified by Centrafrique Check.
This article was edited by Esdras Michael Ndamoyen.
