From NBC News and Islands Business
The Prime Minister’s Office has issued an alert to all, to be wary of any correspondence, bearing the purported signature of the Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill.
The alert is to all service providers within the public and private sectors, provincial governments, district administrations, State-owned Enterprises, donor agencies, resident diplomatic corps, banks, law enforcement agencies and the community.
The Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Isaac Lupari, says it has come to the attention of the Office of the Prime Minister, that O’Neill’s signature has been forged, and dishonestly used by unauthorised persons, to fraudulently obtain money, goods and other services from State entities and private companies.
He says, this signature scam is widespread and is taking place without the knowledge and authorisation of the Prime Minister.
Relevant agencies of the government have been alerted to trace and stamp out the source or sources of this deception.
This came to light after Opposition Leader, Belden Namah, tabled in Parliament last week, a letter purportedly signed by the Prime Minister, authorizing payment of outstanding bills to Paul Paraka lawyers.
