UTME Fraud: Two Candidates and a Parent Arrested by JAMB for Using AI to Falsify Scores
Ademola Busayo 
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced the arrest of two candidates and a parent for allegedly falsifying 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results using artificial intelligence and other electronic tools.
The board disclosed this on Friday while releasing the results of 632,788 candidates who sat the examination on Thursday, April 16.
JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, said in a statement that the suspects were apprehended for manipulating official SMS result notifications to fabricate or alter scores with the intention of deceiving parents, guardians and members of the public.
“Currently, two candidates and one parent are in custody for engaging in result falsification using AI and other electronic means,” the statement said.
Benjamin described the act as a serious criminal offence and warned that the board would ensure all those involved face the full weight of the law.
He also cautioned candidates against tampering with result messages sent through JAMB’s official SMS platforms, 55019 and 66019.
The board advised candidates who sat the examination on Thursday to check their scores by sending UTMERESULT via SMS to 55019 or 66019 using the phone number linked to their registration.
About the Author
Ayo Marvel 
Emmanuel Femi Adedayo 
