Recruitment into police corps: Mbarga Nguélé cautions parents, candidates against scams after arrest of suspected fraudsters.

This follows the arrest of two suspects for usurpation of titles, fraud and cyber criminality.

The arrest of the gang of two was an occasion for the country’s police boss to caution parents and candidates about the Dos and Don’ts of the recruitment process into the corps.

“The Delegate General for National Security made it clear that the recruitment process into the police corps is anonymous from the beginning to the end,” Police Commissioner Emane said.

“There is no bribery or corruption to join the police corps. Dear parents and candidates, please keep in mind that only those with merits will be retained,” the senior police official added.  

Revisiting arrest of suspects

The Regional Judicial Police Division for the Centre Region said they received complaints from some of their colleagues that someone was using their names on fake social media accounts to collect money from citizens, promising to recruit them into the police corps.

This, he said, follows the launching of the recent competitive entrance examinations into the National Security Corps.

Informed of the trend, Police Commissioner, Moise Emane Emane said they resolved to launch an investigation. The investigation was under his supervision

He said thanks to their professionalism and savoir-faire, they were able to apprehend the suspects.

Thee investigation, he disclosed, led to the arrest of 47-year-old Alima Martin, alias Ngono Ngoa Pascaline, in Biteng, and 37-year-old Mvondo Jean Bosco, alias Nnanga Rebecca, in Mbalmayo on September 1. 

The duo, he narrated, were arrested in possession with SIM cards and mobile phones, which they admitted using in committing the dubious act.

According to the police, the suspects, who usurped the identities, ranks, and functions of certain senior police officers, extorted the sum of 11 million FCFA from some parents and candidates in the recent competitive entrance exams by the Delegate General for National Security.

Mode of operation

According to the police, the mode of operation of the suspects consisted of buying SIM cards to create accounts on Facebook.

The police said they used fake Identity Cards cards, after changing the information to carry the names of some senior female police officers.

The police went further to detail that the suspects went further to open Mobile Money, MoMo, and Orange Money, OM, accounts. These numbers, we gathered, were forwarded to victims to deposit money.

After this, they initiated the next step.  The suspected usurpers, and cybercriminals, he added, went ahead to buy mobile phones and change their voice to resemble a female personnel before calling their victims.

After receiving the money from a victim, the suspects then download the lists of successful candidates published on the National Security’s website.

They wiped off some of the names, and later inserted the names of their victims, giving them the impression that they are successful and ready for training.

Once this is done, and the money received, the suspects then cut contact with those they were claiming to help and dispose of the SIM cards used to carry out the fraudulent act.

The population has been urged to denounce anyone who is promising them a place into the National Security corps by dialing the toll-free numbers 1500 or 117 for prompt police intervention. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3260 of Tuesday October 15, 2024