The Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC) has warned Nigerians against online impersonation and fraudulent requests for money by cybercriminals targeting unsuspecting members of the public.
The Centre said fraudsters create fake social media accounts or gain unauthorised access to existing accounts to impersonate individuals, public officials and organisations for financial gain.
According to the NPF-NCCC, the criminals use victims’ names, photographs and personal details to gain the trust of their friends, relatives, colleagues and business associates before requesting money or sensitive information.
The fraudsters also lure victims with fake investment opportunities and business transactions, while some impersonate officials of financial institutions and law enforcement agencies to obtain banking details, passwords, personal identification numbers (PINs) and one-time passwords (OTPs).
The Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of the NPF-NCCC, AIG Akaninyene Ezima, urged members of the public to exercise caution when responding to unsolicited messages, calls and online requests, particularly those involving financial transactions or confidential information.
He advised Nigerians to independently verify suspicious requests by contacting the purported sender through a known telephone number or an established communication channel.
The Centre further advised individuals whose social media accounts had been compromised to alert their contacts, secure their accounts and report the incidents to the relevant platforms.
Victims who had transferred money to suspected fraudsters were urged to contact their financial institutions immediately and report the incidents to the nearest police station or the NPF-NCCC, providing evidence that could assist investigations.
The police centre reiterated its commitment to combating cybercrime through intelligence-led investigations, strategic collaboration and sustained public awareness campaigns.
The warning was contained in a statement issued by DSP Unwana Imah, Public Relations Liaison Officer of the NPF-NCCC, Abuja, who urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and adopt safe practices when using digital platforms.
