Fresh data on cybercrime in Nigeria paints a worrying picture: thousands of attacks and roughly half a billion dollars in losses across individuals, SMEs, and public bodies.
The patterns are familiar, phishing links that steal credentials, fake investment pitches, POS skimmers, and SIM-swap rings that hijack your OTPs.
What’s new is the speed and coordination: scams spread through WhatsApp, Telegram, and spoofed brand pages, hitting more people faster.
Five simple ways to protect your money:
1) Lock down 2FA/OTP: Use an authenticator app where possible. Never share OTPs; banks and telcos won’t ask.
2) Update devices: Turn on automatic updates for your phone and laptop; most breaches exploit old software.
3) Click hygiene: Don’t tap banking links from messages. Type your bank URL or use the official app.
4) SIM safety: Enable SIM/line PINs and ask your telco about SIM-swap protection. If your line suddenly loses service, contact the network immediately.
5) Small-business basics: Separate work and personal devices, limit staff permissions, back up data offline, and review POS terminals for tampering.
On the policy side, experts want faster prosecutions, stronger information-sharing between banks and telcos, and clear public alerts when new scams break. Consumers, meanwhile, can cut risk today by changing a few habits.
The rule of thumb: if a message pressures you to act fast or give private codes, stop and verify. A minute of caution can save months of damage control and your hard-earned money