The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has warned Nigerians to be on high alert due to a surge in fraudulent messages and cyberattack attempts aimed at deceiving the public and compromising personal information.
The warning was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by Hakama Sidi-Ali, the Acting Director of Corporate Communications.
According to the apex bank, the fraudulent emails, messages and online communications are falsely presented as originating from or linked to the CBN, to mislead unsuspecting individuals.
“These fraudulent messages, which prompt recipients to click links, peddle false information about the Bank’s leadership, licensing, and policy issues, and are intended to hack personal accounts,” CBN stated.
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The apex bank stressed that its only official website remains www.cbn.gov.ng, urging the public to verify all communications through the platform and other recognised media channels.
It cautioned Nigerians against interacting with suspicious links or disclosing sensitive information online, noting that such actions could expose them to financial and identity theft.
The CBN also urged members of the public to report any suspected fraudulent websites, emails or messages to law enforcement authorities for prompt action.
Reaffirming its commitment to financial system stability, the bank stated that it “remains fully committed to safeguarding the Nigerian financial system and continues to strengthen its cybersecurity frameworks in collaboration with relevant agencies to protect the public against digital fraud.”
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X