National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has raised an alarm over a rising wave of fraud involving the illegal sale of Nigerians’ data.
Gatekeepers News reports that the commission warned that it will not take responsibility for any consequences faced by citizens who share their National Identification Number (NIN) with unauthorized parties.
According to NIMC’s Head of Corporate Communications, Dr. Kayode Adegoke, the trend is a “serious security concern” with “grave consequences for NIN holders.”
Adegoke stated, “The NIMC wishes to state clearly that it will not be held responsible for any personal information shared by an individual directly or by proxy for the purpose of financial gain or inducement.”
The warning follows the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) disclosure that over 2,000 Nigerians have fallen victim to scammers who offer between ₦1,500 and ₦2,000 in exchange for their data, which is then resold to Fintech companies for as much as ₦5,000.
Adegoke advised Nigerians to treat their NINs with the same level of confidentiality as their ATM PINs or passwords, and urged citizens to download the NINAuth App to enjoy seamless benefits, including protection and control of their personal information.
