The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has alerted Nigerians to the growing prevalence of cyber scams that often pose as festive season offers and giveaways.
In a statement released on Friday, NITDA warned that cybercriminals exploit the celebratory atmosphere to impersonate legitimate organizations, sending deceptive messages that promise cash rewards or free gifts.
According to the agency, these messages frequently claim the recipient has been “selected” for a monetary prize and instruct them to click on a link or share personal information.
Masquerading as acts of goodwill during the holiday season, these scams are designed to deceive individuals into sharing sensitive details, installing harmful software, or transferring money.
NITDA said:
NITDA used the post to outline practical steps Nigerians must take to protect against such scams:
NITDA also recommended that anyone who receives such messages should promptly delete them and report the incident to the appropriate authorities.
The agency encouraged people to inform their family and friends about these scams to raise awareness and promote vigilance.
A week ago, the agency had cautioned Nigerians about a Grandoreiro banking malware designed to target banking apps and steal financial information from users.
Meanwhile, TimesNow.com.ng had reported that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) issued a cautionary alert to the public regarding the rampant “Wangiri” phone scams affecting many mobile users across Nigeria.
“Wangiri,” a Japanese term meaning “one ring and drop,” has become associated with a widespread fraudulent scheme targeting mobile phone users.
In this type of scam, perpetrators make brief calls to individuals, promptly disconnect, and expect the recipient to initiate a return call.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
