The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has raised an alarm about a rising number of online scams in Nigeria. These scams involve fake airline promotions and false investment opportunities. The aim of the scammers is to trick people and steal their personal and banking details.
According to a post shared by the EFCC on their official X (formerly Twitter) page, fraudsters are running a smart scam where they claim to offer big discounts on flight tickets from foreign airlines. To make it look real, they ask victims to pay a small fee — usually around ₦500 — to get access to these fake promos.
EFCC shared an example where people were promised a 50% discount on airline tickets. Victims were told to send ₦500 to a bank account they believed belonged to the airline. But it was all a lie.
The Commission explained that this small payment is actually a trick. It helps the scammers install harmful software (malware) on the person’s phone or computer. This gives them access to important details stored on the device, like bank information. Victims are also tricked into downloading a fake app pretending to be from the airline, which steals even more of their private information.
Once the scammers get access to the victim’s bank details, they quickly transfer money to accounts in microfinance banks. From there, they use cryptocurrency to hide the money, making it harder for the authorities to track and recover it.
Apart from the airline scam, the EFCC also warned about another serious scheme involving people called “Account Suppliers” or “KYC Groups.” These groups offer between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 to people who agree to give up their private documents, like NIN, BVN, and passport photos.
EFCC said that more than 12,000 people are part of these groups across Nigeria. The stolen information is sold to online finance companies for up to ₦5,000 per person. These details are then used to carry out more financial fraud and fake investment offers.
The EFCC confirmed that they have already arrested some suspects and are working to recover the stolen money. The agency ended its statement by warning Nigerians to be careful. People should never give out personal details for any reason that seems suspicious. These scams are not just dangerous to individuals, but also pose a threat to Nigeria’s security.
The EFCC said it remains committed to protecting Nigeria’s financial system and ensuring that people’s money and personal data are safe.
