The Central Bank of Nigeria has issued a public alert warning citizens to be wary of fraudulent messages and cybersecurity hack attempts circulating in the country. The apex bank urged Nigerians to obtain information only from its official website and recognized media outlets, avoiding any suspicious links from unauthorised senders.
In its advisory, the CBN stressed the importance of protecting personal and financial information from criminals who use deceptive messaging tactics to steal money and sensitive data from unsuspecting victims. The bank explained that fraudsters often impersonate legitimate financial institutions to trick people into revealing passwords, account numbers, and other confidential details.
Nigerians have been instructed to verify any communication claiming to come from the CBN by visiting the bank's official website or contacting its customer service channels directly. The central bank warned against clicking on links embedded in messages from unknown senders, as these frequently contain malware designed to compromise devices and steal banking credentials.
The alert comes as cybercriminals continue to exploit digital channels to defraud Nigerians. Phishing emails, fake SMS messages, and fraudulent social media accounts have become common tools for theft and identity fraud across the country. Citizens are advised to delete suspicious messages immediately and report them to relevant authorities.
The CBN also reminded Nigerians that legitimate financial institutions will never request passwords or personal identification numbers through unsolicited messages or calls. Any request for such information should be treated with suspicion and reported to the appropriate security agencies. Bank customers are encouraged to enable two-factor authentication on their accounts and use strong, unique passwords for online banking services.
The bank's warning reflects growing concerns about cybercrime in Nigeria's financial sector. The CBN continues to work with other regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies to combat fraud and protect consumers. Citizens who suspect they have been targeted by fraud should immediately contact their banks and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
