Retailers within the distribution network of Coca-Cola Nigeria, are facing a coordinated wave of impersonation scams, raising broader concerns about fraud risk management and communication oversight within the country’s fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.
Findings by The Octopus News indicate that fraudsters have been systematically targeting small and medium-scale Coca-Cola retailers through phone calls, falsely identifying themselves as company representatives overseeing chiller allocations.
A double door Coca-Cola branded chiller
Multiple retailers across different locations report receiving an average of two unsolicited calls weekly from individuals claiming to be staff of the company. The callers typically begin by asking whether the outlet has recently received a Coca-Cola-branded chiller, a legitimate asset commonly deployed to boost cold-chain sales performance.
If the retailer indicates they have not received one, the caller initiates what is described as a “registration process,” informing the retailer to expect a “chiller identification number” required to complete documentation.
Single door Coca-Cola branded chiller
However, investigations reveal that the six-digit number sent to the retailer’s phone is, in fact, a one-time password (OTP), which fraudsters attempt to obtain under false pretense potentially to access digital banking platforms or payment accounts linked to the retailer.
One retailer, who requested anonymity, said she narrowly avoided financial loss after recognizing the pattern.
“When he said the number would be six digits, I realized it was an OTP and ended the call immediately,” she said.
While the full scale of financial losses remains unclear, at least one marketer disclosed internally that a retailer was allegedly defrauded of ₦9 million in 2025 through a similar scheme.
Though it is unclear how these fraudsters get the mobile numbers of the retailers, many say they have also been receiving calls from supposed representative of Coca-Cola Nigeria who randomly ask about the location of the business and if they have a particular product in stock.
Meanwhile, industry observers say the scheme exploits three structural vulnerabilities including high trust levels between retailers and brand representatives, informal communication channels, including WhatsApp-based coordination and
limited digital literacy among some small-scale operators.
In many FMCG networks, field marketers maintain direct, personal relationships with retailers. Analysts say fraudsters appear to be leveraging this trust ecosystem to execute impersonation attacks.
The increasing digitization of retail payments including mobile banking, POS systems, and online transfers has further widened the attack surface.
The incidents have sparked quiet discussions within retail circles about corporate governance protocols in brand-distributor communication systems.
Experts note that multinational corporations operating extensive retail chains are expected to maintain clearly verifiable official communication channels, periodic fraud-awareness advisories, structured authentication processes for asset allocation and escalation hotlines for suspected impersonation.
While Coca-Cola marketers have reportedly circulated warnings via WhatsApp groups advising retailers not to share OTPs or pay for chillers, no formal public advisory has been issued by the company as of press time.
Interestingly, corporate governance analysts argue that reactive messaging may not be sufficient.
“In distribution-heavy sectors, brand impersonation risk must be proactively managed,” said Michael Igbalode, a Lagos-based risk consultant. “Once fraudsters infiltrate the communication ecosystem, reputational damage becomes a corporate issue not just a criminal one.”
Retailers told The Octopus News that confusion persists regarding chiller distribution policies, eligibility criteria, and documentation processes, a gray area fraudsters appear to be exploiting.
“I have been selling the Coca-Cola brand for three years and I don’t have anything to show for my patronage in terms of corporate gifts. However, I am aware that some other retailers are getting this gifts,” Bidemi Makunjuola (not real name) told The Octopus News.
The development also highlights a broader trend in Nigeria’s retail economy, where scammers increasingly target supply-chain participants rather than end consumers.
As digital transactions deepen across Nigeria’s SME landscape, analysts warn that FMCG companies must strengthen governance frameworks around field operations to prevent brand-linked fraud.
As it stands, especially without any recent distribution chain fraud identification advisory by Coca-Cola Nigeria, retailers remain exposed.
The Octopus News reached out to Coca-Cola’s for comment but had not received a response at the time of filing this report
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