The company promised to lend out N100,000 to traders who invest with N16,000 and also give out N200,000 to those that invest with N32,000. It has been reported that hundreds of women in Ekiti State are currently in pains after being allegedly defrauded. The women have accused a controversial firm, “Atlas Initiative Scheme,’ of absconding with their money, PREMIUM TIMES reports. The company, according to the victims, claimed to have its office at Adamolekun Estate, Adebayo Road, opposite Takeaway Fast Food in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
Narrating their travails in a video posted on social media on Monday, the victims said they gave cash to the representatives of the Atlas Initiative Scheme after organising a seminar for them in the community. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that the company promised to lend out N100,000 to traders who invest with N16,000 and also give out N200,000 to those that invest with N32,000. This newspaper also gathered that 12 members of a cooperative association in the community also paid N250,000 each.
According to victims, they made payments to the company on Friday, November 27, with the promise to get their respective loan on December 1 but on getting to the office of the company, it was locked. The two telephone numbers given to the traders, 07038689142 and 08088754581 have since been switched off. One of the victims, Toyin Kazeem, called on Nigerians to help them get justice so as not to lose their life savings.
“They (Atlas Initiative Scheme) promised to lend us N100,000 each and to be qualified for that, they collected N16,000 from us each. Anyone who planned getting N200,000 paid the company N32,000.” “Since Saturday (November 28), we have been calling their numbers but not connecting and we came to their office but under lock. They have absconded”, she said. “We paid them the money on a Friday and they promised to start disbursing the loans on December 1.” Asked how they heard about the company, Mrs Kazeem simply said “a seminar was organised for them at AP Hall. We urged people to help us and have mercy on us by locating these people.”
Some women echoed that “they collected N250,000 from our group.” Explaining further, a trader, who claimed to be a widow, said 10 persons were duped N16,000 each in her group.
“We expressed our fears to them but they assured us that they are not scammers. I explained to them that I am a widow and was working to feed my children. They promised to start paying on December 1 but they have disappeared.”
