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The Nigerian Communications Commission has cautioned Nigerians, especially telecoms consumers, to ignore any message being spread on the Internet by fraudulent websites, asking Nigerians to apply for free internet data, claiming it was being sponsored by the Nigerian government.
In a statement on Thursday, the commission identified the fake website as https://covid-19-fg-grant.blogspot.com/?=1, which asked Nigerians to apply for free Internet by clicking a web link, which automatically led to a webpage with a dialogue box where they were expected to fill in their bio data and other demographics.
NCC said neither the Nigerian government nor the commission issued such a message.
The commission said, “NCC wishes to state categorically that neither the Nigerian government nor the commission has issued such a message to Nigerian citizens.”
Recently, messages have been circulating the internet with several web links, requesting Nigerians to enroll to get several freebies.
Meridian Spy reported, yesterday Thursday, a disclaimer issued by former vice president, Atiku Abubakar through his media, Paul Ibe asking Nigerians to disregard a website ‘www.atikufoundation.online’ asking for people’s personal data so as to receive financial supports from the former vice president.
Ibe said the notice was put up by scammers to defraud Nigerians, and that the website being used for such is unknown to the former vice-president.
He stated: “This is obviously a SCAM, an attempt to fleece and defraud Nigerians by, perhaps, collecting their vital bio-data for a nefarious objective orchestrated by masterminds of the advertisement on social media.
“Atiku Abubakar, his businesses or charity organization is not in the know of this purported plan and the accompanying advertorial. The website address, https//www.atikufoundation.online, given by the scammers for individuals to apply, is unknown to the former Vice President.”
Similarly, the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning denied circulating a letter calling for donations to fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser, Media and Communications to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Yunusa Abdullahi, the mministry said the letter titled, ‘Donations so far for the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria’ with reference number FMF/HMF/S-EFFE-REC/2020/1 and dated March 28, 2020 was fake and an attempt to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
