The West African Examination Council has described as false claims by some Internet fraudsters that questions posted on its website are those meant for the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

Some scammers had posted supposedly live questions of the May/June 2013 WASSCE on the examination body’s website and urged interested candidates to buy recharge cards to access the questions.

But in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Yusuf Ari, the examination body stated that the claim was false.

It warned candidates against depending on fraudsters to pass examination.

“The attention of WAEC has been drawn to the current scam on Facebook and on some rogue websites whereby gullible persons, particularly candidates sitting for the on going May/June 2013 WASSCE, are lured into believing that they could obtain authentic question papers or answers for the examination in advance.

“Such scams are not new to the council as, over the years, old or fake examination question papers are usually circulated and sold by fraudsters, as authentic current ones, at ridiculous or give away prices,” he noted.

He stated that since WAEC first got wind of the current “digital” or Internet form of scam in 2011, the body had informed security agencies about the “rogue websites.”

“Since then, the Council has endeavoured to routinely carry out investigations into these claims and wishes to state categorically that the claims that authentic question papers or answers for its examinations can be procured in advance are completely false.

“All efforts to procure question papers or answers online, as promised in the current postings on Facebook failed. All efforts to purchase Government question paper scheduled to be written on Monday, April 22, a day to the examination, using GSM scratch cards as demanded, failed.

WAEC, therefore, advised the general public, particularly candidates in the on going examination, their parents and guardians, to be wary of these scams whether via the Internet or elsewhere.