Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC has issued an urgent public disclaimer alerting shareholders and the general investing public to fraudulent advertisements currently circulating across various social media and digital platforms.
The financial institution released the regulatory alert after detecting unauthorized materials that illicitly use the group’s brand identity and executive imagery to lure unsuspecting individuals into deceptive investment pools.
According to a disclaimer signed by the comoany secretary, Chidi Okezie, the fraudulent advertisements falsely feature the image of the Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited alongside the official logo of Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers.
The materials manipulate these assets to invite members of the public into private WhatsApp groups, where coordinators purportedly offer investment opportunities promising guaranteed returns in high-quality stocks.
Stanbic IBTC unequivocally stated that these advertisements are entirely false, misleading, and unauthorized. The holding company clarified that the promotions do not originate from the parent brand or any of its subsidiaries, nor have they been approved or endorsed by the group in any capacity.
The company also denounced the use of its corporate name, logo, and executive images as a criminal attempt to deceive the public.
In response to the development, Stanbic IBTC has formally reported the fraudulent activities to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of Nigeria for swift regulatory intervention.
The company urged the public to exercise extreme caution when encountering any digital communications or advertisements claiming an association with Stanbic IBTC, emphasizing that any investment solicitation promising guaranteed returns should be treated as highly suspicious.
The bank further advised any individual who may have already responded to these fraudulent advertisements, made monetary payments, or disclosed sensitive personal and financial data to report the incident immediately to the nearest law enforcement agency.
To ensure public safety and preserve institutional trust, the group maintained that authentic information regarding its products, services, and market opportunities should only be sourced through its official communication channels. The bank reaffirmed its commitment to taking all necessary legal and administrative steps to safeguard its brand, personnel, and clients from deceptive digital activities.