The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, has advised Nigerians to be wary of fraudsters using the raging Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic to defraud unsuspecting victims.
Magu in a press statement by the EFCC, Head, Media, and Publicity, Mr Dele Oyewale, Wednesday in Abuja, said fraudsters are on the prowl promising innocent Nigerians access to palliatives from the government in a bid to manipulate their banking details against them.
The commission boss said, “Do not accept calls from unknown person purporting to be in charge of distribution of palliatives on behalf of federal government or asking you to send details of your bank account.”
Oyewale said the anti-graft body chairman, who spoke through the EFCC, Head, Advance Fee Fraud (AFF) Section, Makurdi Office, called on financial institutions and Designated Non-Financial Institutions (DFNIs) to always apply due diligence in handling online financial transactions to stem the growing rate of cybercrime in the country.
The spokesperson said Magu explained further that there were regulations from Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, guiding the operations of the, Point of Sales (PoS) operators, even as he stressed the need for financial institutions and DNFIs to always ensure that they keep to the dictates of the law in their operations.
He said he EFCC boss while lamenting the impact of cybercrime on the economy stressed that it was a crime with multiplier effects and warned that the commission would not tolerate breach of extant laws.
