TEACHERS in Papua New Guinea have been urged not to fall victim to scammers posing as Teaching Service Commission (TSC) representatives and charging fees for services.
TSC Chairman, Mr. Samson Wangihomie, issued this warning after receiving a complaint from a teacher in Morobe.
The teacher reported that a man named James Kiviyo had been sending text and WhatsApp messages to recent graduates, asking for payments in exchange for getting them on the payroll.
Wangihomie explained that scammers are likely gaining access to teachers’ phone numbers and sending fraudulent messages, falsely claiming they can help register them or secure their payments. He also mentioned that some have even sent fake bills, demanding money in return for salary payments.
“The registration of teachers is not handled by the Teaching Service Commission,” Mr. Wangihomie clarified, adding that fraudsters have been forging his signature and altering official circulars to extort money from teachers.
“I am calling on teachers never to entertain these schemes and to report them immediately to the police. We do not charge fees to serve teachers.”
He praised the teacher in Morobe for reporting the scam to the TSC and urged others to be cautious.
“Please do not entertain WhatsApp messages or any communications asking for payments. We do not have a TSC legal service branch with a BSP Bank account number 7013686725 that charges fees. Take heed and avoid falling into this trap,” he said.
