Fraudsters Litter Facebook With Answers To WAEC Questions

Few days into the ongoing West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination, WAEC, some people believed to be fraudsters have posted purported answers to the examination questions on Facebook, asking intending candidates to get in touch with them for WAEC question papers. These fraudsters indicated phone numbers by which they could be contacted.

 A visit to the Facebook page showed answers to some of the papers that had already been written. But it was not clear if the Facebook account holders posted the answers after the exams were written or before, as no question paper was posted. Answers to the Physics paper which was written around last Monday were seen on another social network site. There were over 10,000 likes on the page with a visitor by name Aminu, saying, “Nice one broz, but remember Government for us, God bless you.” Two hours to the Chemistry practical which was written on Thursday morning at 9 am, the Facebook page operator had posted answers.

 Two students of a senior secondary school in Yaba (names withheld) who were also writing the exams, told our source that aside the social network sites, their colleagues got SMS alert of answers in the exam hall. A source, who is a graduate of Accountancy from the University of Lagos, said he had gone to report the Facebook leak to the Chief Security Officer of WAEC, Major O. Badejo, (retd).

He said, “I told him everything and I even opened the page on Facebook so that he might see for himself. He wasn’t shocked really because he admitted that there were bad eggs within the system that had continuously frustrated security efforts.’’ PUNCH Metro spoke with the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, WAEC, Mr. Yusuf Ari, and was told that such gimmicks were not new to the organisation as some people make use of social network sites to dupe unsuspecting candidates. He said, “I have seen the materials on the Facebook. We have informed security agencies. We will investigate those behind the sites. They usually advertise that they can provide questions to candidates, we saw some phone numbers and the SSS will investigate these to see the people behind them.’’ He however cautioned candidates writing the exam to desist from patronising these people, noting that they were only out to dupe them. “We advise candidates not to waste their time and money visiting these sites or patronising the fraudsters,’’ he added