Most online scams in Nigeria share four warning signs: they create urgency, they ask for a code, PIN or personal detail, they promise something too good to be true, or they come from an unverified contact. If a message has any of these, stop and verify before you act. The safest habit is simple: if it rushes you, slow down.
The most common scams right now
- Phishing texts and emails: fake bank or BVN messages with a link.
- WhatsApp takeover: a verification code request that hands over your account.
- Too-good job or scholarship offers that ask for a fee.
- Romance scams that eventually ask for money.
- Fake investment and crypto double-your-money offers.
A true story
Mr. Adebayo, a civil servant, got an SMS one Friday saying his salary account would be suspended unless he updated his details. He clicked and entered them. By Monday, a large sum was gone. The lesson: if it looks urgent, it can be a trap.
What to do if you have been scammed
- Call your bank immediately and ask to freeze the account.
- Report to your bank's fraud desk and the Police Cybercrime Unit.
- Change passwords and warn your contacts if an account was taken over.
Stay safe, every week. Join the Digital Life safety series for a weekly alert, or explore the seven DCA frameworks that make these habits stick.