The Inspector-General of the Nigeria Police, M.A Adamu, has disclosed some ‘new trends’ cybercriminals have adopted in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Therefore, he urged members of the public to ‘remain vigilant and take precautionary actions’ against criminal elements who are trying to take advantage of the global pandemic to increase their criminal activities.

According to DCP Frank Mba who released the statement, the IGP has ‘intelligence at the disposal’ suggesting that fraud and cybercrime will rise at this time owing to the lockdown emplaced by Government at all levels to contain the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

Meanwhile, he revealed that intelligence obtained from the INTERPOL Headquarters indicates a rise in crime in Nigeria and other parts of the globe.

According to him, Fraudsters are already creating ‘fraudulent websites, e-commerce platforms, fake social media accounts and emails claiming to sell and deliver (COVID-19) medical products.’

In some cases, they impersonate the brand names of ‘prominent companies involved in the production and distribution of these items.’

Therefore, they urged the general public to adopt these methods so as to stay safe:

• Avoid opening suspicious emails and clicking on links in unrecognized emails and attachments;
• Ensure proper back-up of online and offline files regularly and securely;
• Use strong passwords for securing your emails and social media handles;
• Keep your software updated, including antivirus software;
• Manage your social media settings and review your privacy and security settings;
• You are advised to be wary of scammers who use names of prominent companies to create fraudulent websites, e-commerce platforms, social media accounts and emails claiming to sell and deliver medical products;
• You are advised to ignore and report calls purportedly emanating from a caller who pretends to be a relative currently being treated at hospital asking you to pay for the cost of the medical treatment by transferring money or by paying cash to fake public health representatives;
• Do not open letters or emails related to the pandemic from unknown persons who claim to be health authorities. Often times criminals access sensitive information, steal personal information and steal funds of victims by tricking them into connecting to a specific webpage and logging-in with their credentials;
• Be mindful of fake news, deliberate misinformation/disinformation and avoid circulating untrusted and unverified messages on your social media handles;
• Educate your family, especially your children, about how to stay safe online and offline;
• If you become a victim, ensure prompt report to the police.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria has now risen to 97 and has been increasing on a daily basis. Therefore, we expect the lockdown to last even longer.

Meaning, those tips will come in handy in keeping your finances safe from hackers and cybercriminals.