The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued an alert about the spread of fraudulent messages, emails, and online communications falsely bearing the identity of the bank, to scam unsuspecting members of the public.
The apex bank warned that the fake materials are designed to hack personal accounts and mislead Nigerians on matters of bank leadership, licensing, and policy.
In a notice signed by Mrs Hakama Sidi-Ali, the Acting Director of Corporate Communications, the lender said the fraudulent communications are already in circulation and are prompting recipients to click embedded links, which is the primary mechanism through which the attackers seek to gain unauthorised access to private accounts and personal data.
The bank laid out three clear directives for members of the public. First, Nigerians are advised to refrain from clicking links or providing personal information on any website they cannot confirm as legitimate.
Second, it stated that all communications purporting to come from the CBN must be verified through the bank’s sole official website — www.cbn.gov.ng — or through recognised media organisations.
Thirdly, it warned that anyone who encounters a suspected fraudulent site, email, or message is urged to report it to law enforcement authorities without delay.
“The CBN remains fully committed to safeguarding the Nigerian financial system and continues to strengthen its cybersecurity frameworks in collaboration with relevant agencies to protect the public against digital fraud.”