Cybersecurity expert, Mr. Adamu Musa, has warned that online scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, targeting everyone from ordinary internet users to seasoned IT professionals.
Musa, who teaches Cybersecurity at Abuja-based technology hub, X Hub, said both private and public organisations in Nigeria have suffered ransomware attacks in recent years.
He attributed many of these breaches to employee negligence, noting that scammers now deploy advanced tools such as domain spoofing and artificial intelligence (AI) models like ChatGPT to create convincing deceptions.
“To protect yourself, a healthy dose of skepticism is essential, especially with unsolicited emails,” Musa advised.
He cautioned users to watch for red flags such as suspicious email addresses, misspelled domain names, and unusual requests for personal or financial information.
“Clicking on malicious links can lead to malware infections. Even high-profile individuals, politicians, and public figures have fallen victim to impersonation and fraud schemes—no one is immune,” he said.
Musa stressed that enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) remains one of the most effective defences against online scams.
He explained that 2FA requires users to provide two forms of verification—typically a password and a code sent to a mobile device—before accessing an account.
“This extra step is crucial in combating cybercrime, especially in countries like Nigeria where phishing and data breaches are common,” he said.
He added that most Nigerian banks already use one-time passwords (OTPs) as a form of 2FA and urged individuals to activate similar protections across all digital platforms, including email, social media, and financial accounts.
“Awareness, vigilance, and the adoption of security tools like two-factor authentication are critical for staying safe online,” Musa said.
