The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has warned Nigerians against a fake job vacancy advert circulating online in the name of the former Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), urging job seekers to disregard the notice and verify recruitment information before taking any action.
The warning comes as the fraudulent advertisement continues to circulate across social media and other online platforms, where it reportedly presents itself as an official recruitment exercise. According to the NRS, the notice, titled “Federal Inland Revenue Service – FIRS Job Vacancy – Replacement,” did not originate from the revenue authority and should not be treated as a genuine employment opportunity.
NRS Disowns Circulating Recruitment Notice
In a public notice titled “Fraudulent Recruitment Notice,” the NRS said it had become aware of the recruitment advertisement and moved to distance itself from the claims contained in it.
The fake notice reportedly invites members of the public to apply for employment opportunities and directs applicants to submit their details through an email address provided in the advertisement.
However, the revenue authority made its position clear, stating that the notice is fraudulent and did not come from the Service.
Consequently, the NRS urged Nigerians to exercise caution whenever they encounter recruitment information claiming to originate from the former FIRS or the current Nigeria Revenue Service.
The warning is particularly important for job seekers who may be tempted to respond quickly to vacancies because of limited employment opportunities and the perceived credibility of a government agency.
NRS Says No Recruitment Exercise Has Started
Beyond disowning the advert, the NRS clarified that it has not authorised or commenced the recruitment exercise referenced in the fraudulent notice.
The agency also stressed that it has not appointed an individual, consultant, agent or third party to conduct recruitment on its behalf.
This clarification effectively rules out claims that the advertised vacancy represents an ongoing official hiring process.
Moreover, the NRS advised Nigerians not to assume that an advertisement is genuine simply because it carries the name, branding or identity of a familiar government institution.
Instead, applicants should independently confirm recruitment announcements through official channels before submitting applications, certificates, identification documents or other personal information.
Fake FIRS Name Creates Additional Confusion
Another important element of the warning is the continued use of the FIRS name.
The NRS reminded the public that the Federal Inland Revenue Service has been succeeded by the Nigeria Revenue Service. Therefore, recruitment notices issued under the former agency’s name require particular scrutiny.
For many Nigerians, however, FIRS remains the more familiar name associated with federal tax administration. As a result, fraudsters can potentially exploit that familiarity to make an unauthorised recruitment notice appear credible.
The situation therefore highlights the importance of understanding the institutional transition and checking whether an employment announcement comes from the current agency responsible for federal revenue administration.
Job Seekers Face Risks Beyond Losing Money
While fake recruitment adverts are often associated with financial scams, the risks can extend considerably further.
Fraudulent applications can expose job seekers to attempts to collect personal information, identification documents, certificates and financial details.
In this case, the NRS has advised Nigerians to disregard the purported recruitment exercise and exercise caution when responding to recruitment-related messages, links and other communications.
Importantly, the agency has also warned the public against making payments or disclosing personal or financial information in response to the fraudulent vacancy notice.
Therefore, applicants should be especially cautious when an online vacancy demands money for registration, processing, verification, training or employment.
A genuine-looking logo or official-sounding job title should not replace independent verification.
How Nigerians Can Verify Genuine NRS Recruitment
The NRS has emphasised that legitimate recruitment exercises will be communicated through the Service’s official website and authorised communication channels.
Consequently, job seekers should make those channels their first point of reference whenever they encounter a recruitment announcement claiming to come from the revenue authority.
Rather than clicking links shared through unsolicited messages or forwarding an advert simply because it appears on social media, applicants should independently locate the agency’s verified platforms and check whether the vacancy has been officially announced.
This simple step can help prevent people from surrendering personal information to individuals operating outside the agency.
Online Recruitment Scams Require Greater Vigilance
The latest warning also demonstrates the broader challenge facing Nigerians searching for employment online.
Government agencies and private organisations are frequently impersonated through fake websites, social media posts, emails and recruitment messages. Because job seekers may urgently want employment, fraudulent advertisements can exploit that urgency.
Therefore, applicants need to examine recruitment messages carefully before responding.
A vacancy that uses an unfamiliar email address, requests sensitive documents prematurely, demands payment or cannot be confirmed through an organisation’s official channels should be treated with caution.
Moreover, Nigerians should avoid assuming that an advert is genuine merely because friends, family members or social media users have shared it.
NRS Puts Public Verification at the Centre
The NRS’s warning ultimately places responsibility on the public to verify employment information before taking action.
The Service has made clear that it has neither authorised nor commenced the recruitment exercise described in the fake FIRS advert. It has also stated that legitimate recruitment opportunities will be formally communicated through its official channels.
For job seekers, the message is straightforward: do not rely on the name of an agency alone. Verify the source, confirm the vacancy and protect personal information.
As the NRS continues its transition from the former FIRS structure, Nigerians will need to pay particular attention to official communication about employment opportunities.
Ultimately, the fake vacancy advert serves as another reminder that the search for employment online requires vigilance. By independently verifying recruitment announcements and refusing to provide sensitive information to unconfirmed contacts, job seekers can reduce their exposure to fraudulent schemes while waiting for genuine opportunities from the Nigeria Revenue Service.
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