Afrigather Lagos politician and former Commissioner within the State, Tokunbo Afikuyomi has raised alarm and narrated how some scammers hacked his telephone line and briefly seized management of my WhatsApp messages yesterday.
Afikuyomi gave the narration in an announcement he personally signed on Sunday.
The narration reads partially: “They then despatched fraudulent messages to a few of my contacts requesting that they switch some cash on my behalf.
“A lot of my buddies so contacted rapidly referred to as me up on the common telephone whereas some others spoke with my aides to alert me. Nonetheless, sadly, just a few others didn’t suspect that something was fallacious. They innocently complied with the pretend request and made transfers of thousands and thousands of naira to the varied account numbers in several banks equipped by the scammers.
“The telephone variety of the fraudsters which is getting used to perpetrate this crime on WhatsApp is – 0903 – 832 – 6507 assigned to 1 AJAYE JAJI, purporting to be Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi.
“In all, cash amounting to a number of thousands and thousands of naira was transferred into numerous financial institution accounts together with the next:
• OBINNA EMMANUEL
FIRST BANK
3209319999
• BOLUM EMEKA GABRIEL
GT BANK
0892269924
• TAIWO ASANAT MOSHOOD
STERLING BANK
0505551217
• DAVID ADESINA ODEYEMI
GT BANK
0887334716
• BOLUM EMEKA GABRIEL
ZENITH BANK
1005557964
6. NDAGI GARBA
UBA
2164307270
“I instantly complained to the related safety and regulatory companies and I thank the Anti-Fraud unit of the police for springing into motion instantly. Their efforts led to figuring out among the account numbers and the small print of the respective house owners by which the scammers collected numerous sums of cash. The safety brokers are additionally already deploying know-how to geo-locate the perpetrators. Investigations by related companies are nonetheless ongoing”.
In the meantime, Afikuyomi mentioned he has suspended using his WhatsApp quantity until the authorities can conclude their investigations and can now put extra safety measures in place to guard the road.
He mentioned: “I can solely be reached by common telephone calls on the identical quantity. I CALL ON ALL MY FRIENDS, ASSOCIATES, AND CONTACTS TO IGNORE ANY REQUEST FOR THE TRANSFER OF FUNDS FOR WHATEVER REASONS PURPORTEDLY MADE ON MY BEHALF THROUGH WHATSAPP, TELEPHONE CALLS, OR EMAIL.
“I have to at this stage categorical my dismay with the shortage of due diligence within the checking account opening and upkeep system in our nation. That is what has come out to this point within the investigation of this telephone hacking rip-off. The scammers opened so many financial institution accounts with out supplying the banks with the required safety checks and particulars required by the regulation. In the identical method, it’s now apparent that among the Over the Prime Media Companies (OTT) suppliers don’t absolutely adjust to the supply of Nigeria’s Information Privateness and Safety Legal guidelines.
“I hereby categorical my willpower to do every part throughout the regulation to smash this evil syndicate that has introduced pains and tears to many individuals inside Nigeria and people within the diaspora.
“Let me use this chance to thank everybody whose immediate response helps to cut back the affect of this weekend rip-off. The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Minister of Inside, Mr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Inspector Normal of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, Director Normal of the Nationwide Monetary Intelligence Company (NFIA), Mallam Modibo Hamman Tukur, and the Deputy Governor (Company Companies), Central Financial institution of Nigeria (CBN), Dr. Bala Bello, deserve particular point out for his or her efforts in unveiling the perpetrators of this crime. This crime is a sign of the perilous occasions that we stay in when the know-how that was invented to make life straightforward for all of us has additionally develop into a supply of endangering our lives and properties”.
Afikuyomi referred to as on members of the general public to be extra cautious, cautious, and discerning in responding to among the messages being despatched to us purportedly by our acquaintances, including that it’s often good to double-check with the supposed supply of the message, notably if it includes a request for a switch of cash.
“That is the fact of the brand new age of know-how wherein we stay. It has include its impersonal, impassioned, distrustful and distasteful challenges.
“Might God heal our land, and the world, and proceed to guard us all,” Afikuyomi prayed.
