The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has distanced itself from a fraudulent account number, 8520641017, linked to Sterling Bank, which is illegally demanding N15,700 from candidates seeking to reschedule the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

In a statement issued on Thursday, JAMB Spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, condemned the fraudulent activity, explaining that the account, under the name “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw,” was being exploited by criminals to deceive candidates who missed the examination.

“This is to urgently inform the public about a fraudulent scheme targeting candidates who could not sit for the UTME. Unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully requesting N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services,” Benjamin stated.

He further clarified that the perpetrators have no ties to JAMB or any legitimate government agency.

“Let us make this clear: this is a scam. The individuals behind this scheme are in no way associated with JAMB or any official body. The account details circulating are entirely fictitious and exist solely for the purpose of defrauding unsuspecting candidates. We are calling on Sterling Bank to take swift action to address this criminal activity,” he added.

Benjamin also informed the public that JAMB had reported the incident to the appropriate security agencies and was actively investigating those responsible for the scam.

He emphasized that JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions.

“However, candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were unable to sit for the examination are currently under investigation. Those without discrepancies will be invited to retake the exam at no additional cost—NO PAYMENT REQUIRED,” he said.

Benjamin concluded by reassuring candidates that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after registration is completed. He urged all candidates to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities immediately.

“Protect yourselves from these fraudulent schemes and do not fall victim to them,” the statement ended.