The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has warned
citizens to be wary of a syndicated group looking to swindle victims under the
guise of a “Davido-sponsored airtime giveaway”.
Davido, an Afropop star, recently made headlines after he
announced that he would donate N250 million raised from a social media
fundraiser to orphanages across Nigeria.
In a statement signed by Ikechukwu Adinde, NCC’s public
affairs director, the commission said swindlers are on the prowl to take
advantage of the singer’s gesture in advancing their fraudulent schemes.
He also said the group operates by putting out an advertorial
urging the general public to claim a gift by clicking links that supposedly
redirect them to network sites where they will be credited with airtime and
data.
“This is a scam. Exploiting Davido’s benevolence, a group of
scammers rolled out an advertorial titled ‘Davido Airtime and Data Giveaway’,
which went viral,” the statement read in part.
“The NCC wishes to advise our teeming telecom consumers to
have nothing to do with the advert or any similar bogus enticements.”
Ikechukwu said the adverts are designed to fetch people’s
MSISDN and other information that fraudsters can use to defraud telecom
consumers.
The MSISDN is the full phone number of a cellphone, in
addition to other protocol information.
This number is unique and identifies subscribers/owners in a
GSM or other mobile networks.
“It suffices to state that any unscrupulous person or
unethical hacker can use the number and attendant protocol to undermine the
privacy of the real owners of the number through identity theft and other
scams,” Ikechukwu added.
“The NCC, therefore, reiterates its earlier warning to
telecom consumers to be cautious and not to let their guards down. If a promo
or an offer seems too good to be true, then it is likely untrue.
“[NCC] will not rest
on its oars in empowering telecom consumers with the requisite information and
education in order to protect them from cybercriminals determined to use the
telecom platforms to perpetrate frauds.”
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