Nigerians are constantly at risk from online scams that aim to defraud them of their money, steal account credentials, and other personal information. To deceive their victims, the criminals fabricate phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media posts. The growing digitalization of Nigeria exposes more citizens to various online scams thus making online scam awareness essential. Fraudsters employs phishing tactics by posing as official sources from banks, organisations, government agencies and even overseas organizations. They spread messages that generate panic through their false claims of blocked accounts, expired payments, and false account updates. The aim of this strategy is to deceive victims into disclosing specific information such as the PIN, password or click on links that will in turn give full access to these malicious actors.
One of the major problems plaguing Nigeria today is investment scams, in which perpetrators steal people’s money. Many Nigerians have lost money because of fraudulent investment strategies that promise quick profits. Fake investment opportunities in cryptocurrency, forex trading, and real estate are constantly spreading across social media platforms. The scammers deceive people into trusting them by running their operations long enough to gain trust before fleeing with the victims’ money. It is worth to note that investments that sounds too good to be true are indeed not a real investment opportunity.
Social media has also become a tool for scammers to impersonate others and defraud them. Many Nigerians have witnessed their friends’ accounts being hacked, only to see fraudsters use them to seek immediate financial assistance. These scammers fabricate emotional stories, claiming to be distressed, to pressure victims into sending money. Others use hacked accounts to promote fraudulent giveaways or investment opportunities, duping unsuspecting users who are mostly friends, families or business associates into paying.
The number of fraudulent transactions in the online shopping market continues to grow. Purchases made through Instagram, WhatsApp or other social media vendors usually end in poor delivery or jo delivery at all. People who operate fake seller businesses tend to avoid providing verifiable contact information which creates an impossible situation for customers to reach them after completing payment. These individuals send images belonging to authentic businesses to trick consumers into thinking their operations are legitimate.
Vigilance is the key to avoiding these scams. Panic and a sense of urgency are used by scammers to manipulate victims into acting without thinking. Being able to spot warning signs can make all the difference. Any communication that asks for money or personal information requires quick action or makes exaggerated claims should be viewed with caution. Nigerians should never give out important information over the phone or via SMS, ensure to double-check websites, and confirm company information before proceeding with the conversation or purchase.
Basic digital security measures are also needed to stay always protected. Banks and financial institutions should do their best to encourage their users to have strong passwords and enable multi factor authentication to add an extra-layer of security to their accounts. People should not reuse a password on multiple accounts and update the security settings as appropriate. When buying on sites with online vendors, buyers must try as much as possible to insist on pay–on–delivery or verify the sellers on the site through reviews and recommendations. Sending money to unknown accounts is a lot riskier, in particular when no official business details are supplied.
To combat online scams, public awareness is essential. Since fraudsters take advantage of knowledge gaps, education is an excellent approach to combat fraud. In my opinion, Nigerians need to be effectively informed about cybersecurity threats by government organizations, financial institutions, media and telecom companies. Many victims choose to keep silent and allow scammers to operate freely out of humiliation. However, alerting the appropriate authorities to fraudulent activity will aid in the surveillance and capture of these criminals. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which oversee and regulate these fraudulent operations, provide a means for victims of fraud to inquire and recover from frauds.
Nigerians can defeat evolving internet fraud by understanding what to look for and remaining vigilant. The primary protection against online scams is simple being alert, which makes fraudsters less successful. Users should check the details before interacting with a website or sending personal information online. With scammers on digital channels ready to fool anyone at any time, you need to remain vigilant and always protect yourself.
.Adesola, CC, Security+ Cybersecurity analyst
Email: [email protected]
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