**JAMB Cracks Down on AI-Driven UTME Scams: Parents in the Crosshairs** In a shocking revelation, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has uncovered a sophisticated network of fake officials and syndicates using artificial intelligence tools to defraud candidates preparing for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The board's Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, has sounded a stern warning that anyone involved in the scheme, including parents and candidates, will face severe consequences. According to Oloyede, over 100 candidates have been linked to the scheme, with 83 confirmed to have made payments to the syndicates. The affected candidates span 25 states, with three school proprietors already in custody for aiding and abetting examination malpractice. In a bold move, JAMB has recommended the cancellation of the affected registrations to the Minister of Education. But here's the twist: Oloyede has pointed a finger at parents, accusing them of being willing collaborators in the scheme. He lamented that many of the candidates who patronized the syndicates are underage and have been pushed beyond their academic capacity by their parents. "Paying for fraud does not secure a child's future, it destroys it," Oloyede warned. "You are teaching them that cheating is a strategy, that deception is acceptable, and that merit is optional." The board has taken a no-nonsense stance, rejecting suggestions that it should negotiate with suspects who allegedly fled the country after last year's examination. JAMB has also sanctioned some computer-based test (CBT) centers and is working with security agencies to tackle the fraud schemes. The implication is clear: JAMB will not tolerate any form of examination malpractice, and those found guilty will face the full weight of the law. As Oloyede put it, "Ignorance will not be accepted as a defence." The board is urging parents to refrain from encouraging malpractice and to understand that merit is the only path to success. In a country where education is a lifeline for many, JAMB's efforts to combat examination malpractice are a welcome development. By taking a firm stance against fraud and collusion, the board is sending a strong message to parents and candidates that there is no shortcut to success. Only time will tell if this move will yield the desired results, but one thing is certain: JAMB is not backing down.