The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has alerted Nigerians of fake Davido airtime and data giveaway.
Background:
Recall that popular singer, David Adeleke, with sage name, Davido recently raised funds for the orphanage homes.
The singer raised over N250 million naira and subsequently gave away the money to orphanage to mark his birthday.
He had raised the funds through his friends, fans, lovers and well-wishers.
Window for scammers:
However, scammers have capitalized on the generosity of Davido to launch schemes to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.
The scammers have sent out messages targeting mobile network users, with the aim of luring them into buying the scam.
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In the message, the scammers claim that the philanthropic musician is doing a giveaway of airtime and data.
The NCC said it discovered the scam while undertaking online social listening.
The phony data and airtime giveaway had gone viral, attracting the NCC.
Phony promises:
The scammers claim Davido is giving out free 5K Airtime and 10GB Internet data of All Networks” to celebrate his birthday.
They sent out messages containing links they claim redirects users to a network site where they can claim the gifts.
The scammers urged network users to click on the links and get credited with airtime and data.
NCC Reacts:
However, the NCC has said the whole thing is scam.
NCC warns Nigerians not to fall for the scam, urging all network users to avoid clicking on the link.
In a statement by the commission’s Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC said the adverts from the scammers are socil engineering rip-offs.
“The NCC wishes to advise our teeming telecom consumers to have nothing to do with the advert or any similar bogus enticements.
“The adverts are what they are – social engineering rip-offs designed to get people’s MSISDN and other information that fraudsters can use later to defraud unsuspecting telecom consumers and members of the public.
“For clarity, the MSISDN is simply the full phone number of a cellphone, in addition to other protocol information.
“This number is unique and identifies subscribers/owners in a GSM or other mobile networks.
“Therefore, it suffices to state that any unscrupulous person or unethical hacker can use the number and attendant protocol to undermine the privacy of the real owners of the number through identity theft and other scams.”
The NCC, therefore, reiterates its earlier warning to telecom consumers to be cautious and not to let their guards down.
NCC warned that “If a promo or an offer seems too good to be true, then it is likely untrue.”
It however said it would continue to protect Nigerians by providing them with necessary information to keep them safe online.
“The Commission will not rest on its oars in empowering telecom consumers with the requisite information and education in order to protect them from cybercriminals determined to use the telecom platforms to perpetrate frauds.”
Recall that between a couple of months ago and now, the NCC has severally alerted Nigerians of various cyber attacks.
The recent warning is the one from Israel who targeted telecommunications companies and their consumers.
Implications:
Recently, there have been many cyber attacks targeting Nigerians.
What this means is that many Nigerians may have loosened their guards against cyber attacks and their dangers.
Should anyone fall victim to these scams, such a person can lose their money in their banks.
Also, the privacy of such a person would be gone as the hackers can user a victim’s identity to perpetrate other crimes.
Also, some Nigerians click on links indiscriminately and hackers know this, hence, the targeting of Nigerians.
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