ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraq's integrity commission on Wednesday warned against individuals impersonating its officials to blackmail and extort people under the guise of the country's ongoing anti-corruption campaign.

In a statement, the commission called on institutions, investors, and the public to “verify the identity of some individuals who contact them impersonating employees of the commission for the purpose of blackmailing and extorting them.”

The body asserted that the individuals are exploiting the anti-corruption campaign, initiated by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and carried out by the integrity commission and other relevant institutions, “to intimidate them for despicable purposes.”

Earlier this month, Zaidi called on citizens to report corruption cases and instructed that a “substantial” financial reward be granted to informants.

Zaidi’s campaign has enjoyed broad support from the Iraqi public as well as myriad notable politicians and officials across the country.

The commission urged the public not to respond to anyone claiming to represent it outside official channels, and to report them to the authority’s 154 hotline “to track them down and catch them in the act.”

In late June, Baghdad launched a large-scale anti-corruption campaign, when security forces entered the capital’s heavily fortified Green Zone and arrested scores of senior officials and lawmakers over alleged corruption and theft of public resources.

The Iraqi government has officially confirmed that at least 21 people were detained during the widespread crackdown operation – dubbed Operation Dawn – on corruption charges. Iraqi state media had initially reported that 47 people were arrested.

Among those detained were Sunni Azm Alliance leader Muthanna al-Samarrai, former Wasit Governor Mohammed Jamil al-Mayahi, Oil Ministry Undersecretary Ali Ma’arij al-Bahadli, and Ibrahim al-Sumaidaie, a senior adviser to former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani.