Choima Eberechukwu, a Lagos-based worker, has narrated how a fake Ethiopian Airlines agent scammed N718,840 from her on July 21.

Eberechukwu told FIJ that the money was meant for a flight ticket to Edmonton, Canada, from Lagos.

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“Before this payment, I had searched online for a booking office. I saw the Ethiopian Airlines website there. This was after telling them my intention to book a flight. Then one Elijah Ejeh Friday who claimed to be an Ethiopian Airlines agent called to ask me about the type of air ticket I preferred. I chose a ticket to Edmonton, which amounted to a total cost of N718,840, and he sent me his account for payment. He told me he would book the flight on my behalf,” she said.

Eberechukwu told FIJ that the fake Ethiopian Airlines agent told her to expect a notification via her mail but she did not receive it.

“This continued till July 22, and it prompted my call to the number. At first, the agent picked up my call and claimed that he had done the booking but didn’t know what the problem was. I kept following up with him several times, but he eventually stopped answering calls,” said Eberechukwu.

“Consequently, I had to use another phone line belonging to my sibling to call him, and he picked up claiming he had done the booking. However, my sibling suggested sharing her email address with him to be used since he said he was having issues similar to mine. He also stopped answering my sister’s call. However, my sister received an email of an Ethiopian Airlines flight reservation days later.”

Eberechukwu said she visited the Murtala Muhammed Airport to complain, but the manager of Ethiopian Airlines told her she had been scammed.

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“The manager told me that many people had been a victim and that this fraud had been going on for a long time. I reported the matter to the complaint section of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, and they advised that I contact the relevant authority,” she said.

When FIJ contacted Ethiopian Airlines to know what they were doing to reduce cases of fraud, a member of staff asked that our reporter contact the head office.

FIJ made several calls to the head office, but they were not answered. An email sent to them had also not been responded to at press time.