A cybersecurity expert has warned Nigerians against falling victim to viral messages claiming that celebrities or the Federal Government are offering free data or airtime.
Dr Chidi Okereke, a cybersecurity analyst based in Abuja, gave the warning in an interview on Monday.
Okereke said scammers often monitor trending events, including election victories, celebrity celebrations and government palliatives, to create and circulate fraudulent links.
He explained that the links were phishing scams designed to steal personal and financial information from unsuspecting victims.
“Every time there is big news like an election victory, a celebrity wedding or a government palliative, scammers are already working on clickbait,” he said.
According to him, scammers circulate the links on social media platforms, promising free airtime or data while encouraging recipients to share them with others.
He said scammers also exploit the credibility of popular personalities and create fake offers using their names, knowing that people often share such messages before verifying them.
Okereke added that fraudulent websites were sometimes designed to resemble the official portals of telecommunications companies such as MTN, Airtel, Glo and 9mobile.
“It looks exciting; it uses a trusted name and spreads fast on WhatsApp groups. But behind those links is not free data. It is a trap,” he said.
He warned that such scams could be used to steal phone numbers, One-Time Passwords (OTPs), bank details, BVN and access to victims’ social media accounts.
The cybersecurity analyst advised Nigerians to verify suspicious offers through celebrities’ verified social media accounts, official company websites and network providers’ official mobile applications.
He also urged users to check website domain names carefully and avoid links that request ATM card details, BVN or OTPs.
“If the link does not match the official domain, close it immediately,” he said.
Okereke advised Nigerians to think carefully and verify suspicious claims before clicking or sharing them, particularly when messages contain phrases such as “hurry”, “limited time” or “share with other groups”.
“You should think first, verify second and click last to avoid losing money and personal information to scammers,” he said.
