A fraudulent online vendor is targeting Facebook users, FIJ can report.

The vendor blocked Rita Idu (not real name), an Akwa Ibom State resident, after failing to deliver the pairs of footwear she paid for,

Idu told FIJ how she paid N91,904 to one Adekunle Racheal Funke, a wholesale vendor she saw on Facebook. This vendor turned out to be a serial scammer.

FIJ learned that Idu made the payment between September 22 and October 2, 2023, but the vendor did not deliver any of the items.

READ ALSO: ALERT: Fraudulent Vendor Targeting Instagram Users

“I saw her page on Facebook and reached out to pay for some products I was interested in, but the vendor did not deliver any, not even one. She kept saying she would deliver, but none arrived until she blocked me and removed me from her groups,” Idu said.

FIJ gathered that the vendor often direct interested customers from her Facebook page to either WhatsApp or Telegram.

On Telegram, potential customers could check out more videos and images of products that catch their fancy, download them and forward to her on WhatsApp in order to place their orders.

For the orders Idu placed in September, the items were supposed to be delivered to Akwa Ibom by September 26, while the ones she ordered in October were to get to her on October 3.

However, the vendor not only failed to deliver the items Idu paid for but also blocked any attempts to contact her for either the products or a refund.

READ ALSO: After Collecting N70,000, Facebook Vendor Olufunke Collection ‘Pockets’ Customer’s Clothes

“The account details she sent to me was 9070696463, a Palmpay account number with the name ‘Adekunle Racheal Funke'”.

Checks by FIJ showed that the vendor uses two different Glo numbers to perpetrate the scam.

One of the numbers, obtained from Idu, showed ‘Everything Wholesale’ on Truecaller, while the other, found on the vendor’s Facebook page, returned the name ‘Em Gold’.

The vendor’s Facebook page bore the name ‘All About Wholesale’, while the names on the two Telegram channels linked to both numbers showed EVERYTHING_WHOLESALE and WHOLESALE BAGS AND SLIPPERS.

Also, the two WhatsApp groups linked to both numbers had the names: EM Gold Fashion Empire and EVERYTHING_WHOLESALE respectively.

FIJ called the numbers several times, but the calls were unanswered. When the two numbers were messaged via WhatsApp, FIJ received automated responses that shared similarities.

Interestingly, this reporter found that she had been blocked from contacting the two numbers as the follow-up messages sent to both numbers did not deliver.

This was verified by the reporter, who observed that videos and images of items on sale were being posted in EM Gold Fashion Empire, one of the groups (which she joined with another number), at the same time the follow-up messages were sent.

Also, when this reporter disguised as a potential buyer, the vendor responded to the inquiries on the cost of delivering a particular pair of footwear to Lagos.

The fraudulent vendor sent the exact same account details forwarded to Idu to this reporter.

Meanwhile, FIJ found that Idu is not the only Nigerian who has been scammed by this vendor.

In July, Facebook user Oladapo Temitope raised the alarm, pointing out that EM Gold Fashion Empire had defrauded numerous individuals.

The Facebook post reads: “Everybody should be careful with this lady. She is a 419 her fake business name is Em GOLD FASHION EMPIRE she has duped many people. Her phone number is 08112229651, 0809206164 and her opay account number is 8159552001 with Adekunle Miracle Funke and her GT account details are 0778023363 with Adekunle Miracle. Everybody should be careful not to do anything call business with her. She said she’s selling bags and shoes but not so. Definitely she will face the wrath of God from generation to generation.”

As observed by FIJ, the Opay account number linked to EM Gold Fashion Empire is identical to the one provided by the individual who scammed Idu of more than N90,000.

A look through the comments on Facebook page of the so-called vendor also revealed complaints from people who have fallen victim to the vendor’s scams.

FIJ found that the mode of advertisement on the EM Gold Facebook page, which was created in 2021 and on which last post was dated May 2, 2021, has similar features with the All About Wholesale page.

Expressions like “Trust is the key”, “If you are not serious please don’t stress me”, “Thank for your understanding”, “No scam zone here”, “Delivery nationwide” and “WhatApp or call” were found on both pages.

But unlike the former, where potential buyers were asked to save what they need and message the seller on WhatsApp, the latter contained links to a Whatsapp Group and Telegram Channel.