NITDA Raises Alarm on Fake Websites

NITDA Raises Alarm on Fake Websites

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has advised the general public to be wary of fake websites, which are trying to capitalize on the COVID-19 pandemic to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

Bringing to the attention of the public, especially those in the cyber space, the existence of fake websites in circulation, NITDA, through its Head, Corporate Affairs and External Relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, however said, it is doing everything possible to shut down the websites identified, as well as sanction those behind them.

It also called on the general public to disregard and report any such websites to the Agency for necessary action.

According to the statement by Mrs. Umar, in NITDA’s efforts at ensuring a safe and secure Nigerian cyberspace, the Agency’s Computer Emergency Readiness and Response Team (CERRT) identified a number of websites using various phishing tricks to attract Internet users.

She said: “One of such tricks is misinforming the public that Federal Government has approved the disbursement of funds under a fictitious vote called “Lockdown Funds”. It then requires the user to complete an online form with their personal information including bank details for the payment to be effected.”

However, she added: “Furthermore, in NITDA’s efforts to checkmate cyber security threats and possible data breach under Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR), Internet users are advised not to give out their personal information to anyone online;
avoid clicking unknown links; disregard offers requesting for their bank details; and know what to do when they become victims of cybercrime.”

By PRNigeria