Nigeria’s technology regulator, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), warned Nigerians to be wary of online shopping scams during the holiday season.
The agency said in an advisory released on Tuesday that scammers frequently take advantage of the holiday season by setting up phony online stores, sending phishing emails or texts that promise irresistible Black Friday or end-of-year deals, and tricking unwary people into clicking malicious links.
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“Scammers often trick people into clicking on fraudulent links that install malware on their devices or lure them into patronizing fake online stores, resulting in financial loss, identity theft, and emotional stress,” the advisory stated.
Precautions to take
Nigerians should take precautions to protect themselves, NITDA advised.
These precautions include avoiding links in unsolicited emails or messages, confirming the legitimacy of online stores by reading reviews, double-checking contact information, and making sure secure connections (shown by “https://”) are present, avoiding using public Wi-Fi for online transactions, turning on multi-factor authentication (MFA) on accounts, being cautious of deals that look too good to be true, and routinely checking their accounts for unauthorized transactions.
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“Staying vigilant and following these safety measures are critical steps in avoiding scams during the holiday shopping period,” NITDA emphasised.
Nigerians can reach NITDA’s Cybersecurity Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT.NG) by phone at +2348178774580 or by email at cerrt@nitda.gov.ng for more assistance or to report suspicious activity.
The agency reaffirmed its dedication to fostering a safe online environment and advised Nigerians to exercise caution when making purchases online.