By Atoyebi Nike
The EFCC has raised alarm over a new fraud trend targeting Nigerians through fake airline ticket offers and investment deals.
According to the Commission, scammers use malware to steal victims’ bank details. They lure people with online ads promising airline ticket discounts and other offers.
In one case, victims were told to pay ₦500 and download an app linked to a foreign airline. The app gave fraudsters access to the users’ personal and banking details. The stolen funds were moved into accounts with microfinance banks and fintech platforms.
The EFCC said most of the fraud is carried out by young Nigerians. These fraudsters call themselves “Account Suppliers” or “KYC Group.” They pay between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 to collect people’s identity documents such as BVN, NIN slips, and passport photos.
They then sell this information to fintech operators for about ₦5,000. The stolen identities are used to open accounts, launder money, or run investment scams.
The Commission revealed that over 12,000 people may be involved in this criminal network nationwide.
Some arrests have already been made, and efforts are ongoing to recover stolen funds.
The EFCC warned Nigerians not to share their personal details for money or agree to be “account donors.” It said this act is illegal and a threat to national security.
The Commission restated its commitment to protecting Nigeria’s financial system and urged the public to report any suspicious promos or identity requests.
