Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has alerted residents of Bauchi State on the increase in electronic fraud that drains their hard-earned money through their commercial banks and Points of Sale (PoS) outlets. 
   
Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NeFF) said the country lost N9.5 billion to fraudsters between January and August 2023.  Director of Consumers Affairs, NCC, Umar Alkazeem, while enlightening residents of Bauchi through the commission’s ‘Shine Your Eyes, No Fall Mugu’ campaign, yesterday, said that telecommunications subscribers were still being defrauded due to blind trust in family, friends and strangers by exposing their sensitive information on the Internet and offline.  
  
Greed on the part of some network subscribers, he asserted, exacerbates the illegal activities.
  
According to Alkazeem, many people want quick money or multiple interests and click on fraudulent links asking them to confirm money that was given to them, thereby falling victims.
  
The director, who was represented by the Head, Consumers Policy Development and Monitoring of the Consumers Affairs Department, Banji Ojo, said: “They send a link to you that you have won a lottery you never played or send you message that you have won a certain amount and you need to call Mr. A or B to get the money, once you click on the link or provide any information, you are done for.”
  
He warned Nigerians not to give vital information on their debit cards, including 16-digit number, three-digit number at the back, card name, expiry date and the card’s Personal Identification Number (PIN). 
  
“Report strange debit alerts from your accounts to financial institutions and carry the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and security agencies along,” he advised the residents.