Spotting scams

Scammers are clever. Here's how to spot their tricks. Scammers try to trick you into sending money, or giving away your passwords, PINs and codes. Fake messages that try to hook you are called phishing, because the scammer is fishing for your details. Here's a typical fake bank message. Let's find the warning signs. First, scary news. Your account is blocked! It's meant to make you panic. Second, a believable excuse, like a B V N update. Third, a strange short link. Banks don't send you links like this. Fourth, it asks for your PIN and O T P. Your real bank will never ask for these. And fifth, a deadline, so you act before you think. It's a scam. Delete it, and if you're worried, call your bank on the number on your card.

Common scams in Nigeria

Fake credit alerts. Someone pays with a fake text message that looks like a bank alert. Always check your real balance in your bank app before you hand over goods. Fake job offers. A great job, but you must first pay a fee for forms, training or a medical. Real employers don't charge you to get a job. Wrong transfer tricks. Someone says they sent you money by mistake and begs you to send it back. Check your bank app, and if money really did arrive, ask your bank to handle the return. Fake friends. Someone pretends to be a friend, a relative or a pastor, often on a new number or a hacked account, and asks for money urgently. Call the person on their usual number to check.

Stop, check, then act

First, stop. Scammers want you to panic and act fast, so slow down. Second, check another way. Call the bank or the person on a number you already trust, not one in the message. Third, never share your PIN, O T P or passwords, whatever story you're told. And fourth, report it to your bank, and warn your family and friends.

Quick check

Quick check. A text says you've won 500,000 naira in a promo you never entered. You just need to pay a 5,000 naira processing fee. What is it? A scam. You can't win a promo you never entered, and real prizes don't ask you to pay first. Options: A lucky win; A scam; A bank error; A government grant.

Recap

Phishing messages fish for your details. Watch for panic, strange links, requests for codes, and deadlines. Always check credit alerts in your bank app. Never pay to get a job or a prize. And remember, stop, check, then act.

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