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Scam: Nigerian senator not giving out money, cars, houses

Has Dino Melaye, a former Nigerian senator and politician, promised to give needy Nigerians money, food and houses? 

In a Facebook post from 17 July 2020 he appears to. The post reads: “Hello everyone MY NAME IS DINO MELAYE DUE TO THIS CORONA VIRUS OUTBREAK I WANT TO HELP THE FIRST 10,000 people to tell me one thing you need from me and I vow to do it for you I promise I will do it.” 

The post asks readers to comment, choosing what gifts they would like from a list that includes “money - N70,000”, “food”, “house”, “car” and “scholarship to study abroad”. 

The controversial former senator was a member of the national assembly, representing Kogi West senatorial district in central Nigeria. 

The post includes a photo of Melaye , sitting on a gold-gilded chair wearing flashy sunglasses and a baseball cap with “SDM” on it in gold letters.

It’s published on a page titled “Dino Melaye Giveaway Page”. Despite the page appearing to have been created in April 2016, it boasts only three posts, all published on 17 July, making the same promises. 

The page’s profile picture, also showing the senator in sunglasses and a cap, was updated on the same date.

This looks like another online scam, but we investigated.



No mention on senator’s official accounts


The politician’s official verified Facebook page is followed by over 650,000 people and liked by more than 500,000. In comparison, the giveaway page is only followed by 643 people, and liked by even fewer.

There is also no mention of any giveaways on Melaye’s official page, where he regularly posts about his life and political career.

We also didn’t find any mention of any giveaway on his verified Twitter and Instagram accounts, which have more than 1.7 million followers each.

The “Dino Melaye Giveaway Page” on Facebook is not linked to the senator and any promises of lavish gifts on it are false. – Motunrayo Joel

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