Sh*cking Warning: Online Scams Thrive As People Reveal Too Much Personal Data

Claire, a 24-year-old student at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, never expected that a simple online purchase would cost her a huge sum of money. On Christmas Eve 2025, the Lagos resident came across an Instagram vendor advertising a fairly used iPhone at an attractive price. The page appeared genuine, featuring product images and positive customer reviews.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

After a short exchange, the seller requested a payment of ₦120,000. Trusting the deal, Claire transferred the money. Moments later, the seller became unresponsive, the phone number stopped working, and the Instagram account vanished—leaving her to realise she had been defrauded.

Cases like Claire’s are increasingly common across Nigeria, as cybercrime continues to rise. With the widespread use of smartphones, mobile banking, and social media, fraudsters now have more avenues to exploit unsuspecting victims.

From fake online shops and phishing messages to fraudulent investment schemes, many Nigerians are losing money to internet criminals operating across multiple digital platforms.

Cybercrime has also led to significant financial losses nationwide. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) reports that the country loses hundreds of millions of dollars annually to such crimes. The agency has secured thousands of convictions related to internet fraud, highlighting the scale of the problem.

Speaking with Naija News, the President of the Cyber Security Experts Association of Nigeria (CLEAN), Mathew Olatunji, described the situation as highly concerning.

He explained that cyber threats in Nigeria have become more frequent and sophisticated, with criminals targeting individuals, businesses, and financial institutions using various methods.

“We are witnessing persistent phishing attacks, ransomware incidents, business email compromise, SIM-swap fraud, and credential theft,” he said.

Olatunji noted that the rapid expansion of digital technology has also created new vulnerabilities.

“The growth of cloud services, mobile banking, and remote work environments has opened new doors for cybercriminals,” he explained.

He added that attackers are increasingly using advanced tools to scale their operations, including automation and artificial intelligence to enhance social engineering tactics.

According to him, many scams succeed because they exploit human emotions such as fear, urgency, greed, and trust.

“People are often pressured by messages threatening account restrictions or lured by promises of quick financial gains,” he said.

He also warned that oversharing personal information online makes individuals more vulnerable.

“Scammers can collect details from public profiles and use them to craft convincing and personalised messages,” he explained.

Olatunji highlighted common warning signs of online scams, including messages that create urgency, requests for sensitive details like passwords or bank information, and offers that seem too good to be true.

“Legitimate organisations will never ask for passwords, PINs, or one-time passwords through email or social media,” he stressed.

Small businesses, he added, are also frequent targets because they often store valuable data but lack strong cybersecurity systems.

“Typical attacks include phishing emails, ransomware, fake invoices, and payment diversion schemes,” he said, noting that criminals see small businesses as easy and profitable targets.

To stay safe, Olatunji advised Nigerians to adopt basic security practices such as using strong, unique passwords and enabling two-factor authentication.

He also urged caution when clicking links or downloading attachments, especially from unknown sources, and recommended regularly monitoring bank accounts for suspicious activity.

While acknowledging improvements by Nigerian banks and fintech firms—such as the use of multi-factor authentication and fraud detection systems—he said more effort is needed, particularly in public awareness and rapid response to threats.

For victims of cybercrime, Olatunji advised immediate action: securing accounts, freezing bank transactions if necessary, and reporting incidents to financial institutions and law enforcement agencies like the EFCC.

He also emphasised the importance of preserving evidence, including emails, screenshots, messages, and transaction records.

Olatunji called on the government and security agencies to strengthen cybercrime laws, improve enforcement capacity, and collaborate internationally to tackle cross-border fraud.

Finally, he cautioned young Nigerians against engaging in internet fraud, warning of serious legal consequences such as imprisonment and lasting criminal records.

Instead, he encouraged them to develop legitimate digital skills like programming, cybersecurity, digital marketing, and fintech development, which offer sustainable and lawful opportunities.

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