The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has warned Nigerians sharing their information with scammers who offer between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 to desist from such actions, stressing that it will not be responsible for any consequences faced by citizens who share their information with others.
According to the commission, these scammers, in exchange for data, resell the information received to Fintech companies for as much as ₦5,000.
The warning comes after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) disclosed that over 2,000 Nigerians have fallen victim to scammers who offer between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 in exchange for their data, which is then resold to Fintech companies for as much as ₦5,000.
Quoting EFCC’s statement, NIMC said, “This fraud scheme is largely driven by an army of young Nigerians offering a paltry payment of between ₦1500 and ₦2000 to their victims to make them surrender a copy of their personal information details to them and sell the same information to some Fintech Institutions for about ₦5000”
Reacting, the NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Kayode Adegoke, in statement issued in Abuja on Sunday describing the trend as “a serious security concern” with “grave consequences for the NIN holders.”
“The NIMC wishes to state clearly that it will not be held responsible for any personal information shared by an individual directly or by proxy for the purpose of financial gain or inducement,” Adegoke stated.
He warned that disclosing personal data carelessly exposes citizens to identity theft, fraud and other criminal activities. He reminded the public that “Nigerians have been informed repeatedly in the past by the NIMC not to disclose their NIN to any unauthorised individual or organisation.”
The agency also cautioned service providers to verify all NINs presented before granting access to any services, stating that such verification is crucial to protecting users’ identities.
“To enjoy seamless benefits, including protection and control of their personal information, Nigerians are advised to download the NINAuth App on Apple iOS or Google Play Store,” the statement added.