Starting with Facebook livestock transactions that never materialized, to Instagram and Facebook stores that disappeared suddenly, an increa...
Starting with Facebook livestock transactions that never materialized, to Instagram and Facebook stores that disappeared suddenly, an increasing number of Nigerians are being targeted by fake online sellers who take advantage of the social media platforms' popularity and public trust.
Assurances of high-quality products available at significant discounts, appealing images, and fake customer testimonials attract naive customers into sending money for items that are never received.
In most cases, these counterfeit sellers lack a confirmed contact address or phone number. They also use incorrect English grammar, have minimal interaction on social media, and restrict comments to stop unfavorable feedback. However, behind these attractive advertisements are online predators and anonymous fraudsters who have taken over real vendors' pages, copied websites, and operate in an uncontrolled digital marketplace, where retrieving lost assets is nearly impossible and getting justice is often difficult.
This report outlines the challenges faced by several Nigerians who have been deceived by fraudulent online sellers.
When Ahmed Idris came across images of well-nourished goats on a Facebook marketplace, he believed he had discovered an excellent opportunity and a long-awaited dream. At N60,000 per animal, the goats appeared ideal for the small livestock farm he had always wanted to establish in Bwari, a neighborhood in Abuja. The seller, who identified himself as another Edo native and a farmer from Kebbi State, spoke persuasively, provided videos, and assured quick delivery. Believing in his 'brother,' Ahmed paid a deposit of N130,000 for five goats.
Time went by. The goats never arrived. His calls remained unanswered. Eventually, the seller disappeared, removing his account and blocking Ahmed on all platforms. It was then that Ahmed realized he had become a victim of one of the numerous fake online sellers deceiving unaware Nigerians every day.
Ahmed recounted his experience, saying, "I sent a message to the number via WhatsApp and talked about the goats I saw on Facebook. They appeared fine, and when I inquired about the price, he mentioned that each goat was worth N60,000. He stated that he is located in Kebbi State. The individual also mentioned that he is a farmer who owns 17 acres of land in Kebbi State, which was provided to him by his in-law for farming."
Ahmed mentioned that his conversation grew familiar with the seller, and during the interaction, he pretended to be from Edo State, the same region as his victim, in an attempt to build trust.
He mentioned that I shouldn't be concerned about placing my order, explaining that he was currently checking inventory to deliver in Kogi State, and if I could place the order at that specific moment, he would include mine with the delivery. I agreed, and he eventually provided me with an account number to transfer the payment.
He requested N160,000 for three goats but wanted me to pay half upfront, which amounted to N80,000. The payment was to be made into a Kuda Bank account under the name Ekhayemhe Omokhoa.
He mentioned that following the payment, one of his supervisors at work became curious about the transaction he was conducting and was also impressed by the appearance of the healthy animals, so he expressed interest in purchasing two goats.
"I contacted the vendor again and informed him that my boss was also interested, and he said that since it was through me, he would offer a discount of N50,000 for each. That's how we sent him an additional N50,000 as an advance payment, bringing the total to N130,000," he said.
He mentioned that once the payment was made, there was a long period of waiting for the delivery of their items, which ultimately never arrived.
"He mentioned that the animals would arrive the next Monday, but I have been calling him up until today and he hasn't answered. When I started confronting him on social media, he blocked my contact so I couldn't reach him again," he said.
Ahmed realized at that moment that he had become a victim of an online scam conducted by fake sellers who use manipulated videos and images of animals they do not actually possess to trick innocent people.
He mentioned that he still encounters ads from the same group on Facebook, but he has come to understand that the seller typically selects advertisements for products from legitimate vendors, which he then modifies and shares on his social media profiles to defraud people.
"What he does is, if you place an advertisement online promoting your products and it gains attention, he will download and alter it, removing your details. After that, he will run the same ad alongside your original one. So, if you end up following his version, it means you've been tricked by a fake account," Ahmed explained.
After taking the step, he mentioned that his supervisor brought the matter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), but they were unable to take any action.
"They mentioned that because the account is a mobile money account, it would be difficult to track," he said.
Additionally, Emmanuel Adam encountered a seller on Instagram promoting some items he needed to purchase at home.
He was also drawn to the inexpensive nature of certain items, as he believed they might have been purchased in large quantities at reduced costs.
After viewing the items I was interested in, there was an option to message the person via WhatsApp since a phone number was provided on the link. Later, I chose the products and the total cost came to N45,000 and N48,000. Naturally, everything appeared authentic. There was a video and images of the person with the items; also, there were comments from others.
Although the comments made him confident that the products would be delivered because of their positive feedback, they were all copied.
The confidence in the comments led him to make the payment, as some of the items were perishable goods requiring upfront payment prior to delivery.
"I paid with the expectation that this item would arrive the next day. However, the next day extended to two days. Later, the person stopped replying to my WhatsApp messages and stopped answering my calls," Adam stated.
He ultimately decided to go to the address he had seen on the page, but he remarked, "The address was in Gwarimpa, Abuja, but when I reached that area, there wasn't anything resembling a shop or seller there."
That's when I realized I had fallen for a scam. I quickly contacted my bank, which advised me to get in touch with the recipient's bank. Unfortunately, the recipient's bank is also a mobile money institution.
I contacted all my friends working in financial organizations. They examined the individual's account and discovered that the funds had been entirely taken out. They informed me that I needed to go to court to obtain an affidavit to put the account under a red alert.
However, the entire pressure was overwhelming for him, and there was no assurance that he would recover his money.
Anna Paul connected with an online seller via a WhatsApp group chat and added the contact. She was thrilled by the wide range of bags and other items the vendor had available for sale.
The small bags were being sold for as low as N3,000, so I sent her a message to get six of them along with a bubu dress, which cost N5,000. My total order came to N23,000. As she was living in Lagos and I am in Abuja, the plan was for her to arrange the delivery for me.
However, on the day the vendor was supposed to deliver the items, the reason given was that it was raining, preventing her from going to the park.
I used the chance to buy additional items totaling N17,000. In total, I spent N40,000.
After all that, it was time for the delivery, and she mentioned it was raining. That day went by, and the next day, she didn't log in and wasn't answering calls until the evening. When she came online, I told her she should refund my money if the items weren't available. She blocked me and removed me from her group. Later, I discovered that I wasn't the only one she blocked, so I decided to chat with those she had removed, only to learn that she had also defrauded them and taken them out of the group.
Mrs. Uloma Amali mentioned that she intended to buy fabrics for her daughter's wedding and, because of limited time, opted to shop online. She stated that she reached out to a seller online following reviews about the vendor, which she found to be positive. Mrs. Amali said she proceeded to pay approximately N2 million, including the delivery charge, but never got the products. "After a few days, I tried contacting her, but my message wasn't delivered. I assumed it was a network problem. However, I kept trying, and the message still didn't go through. It was my friend who later told me that I had been blocked. To this day, I haven't received the items. In fact, I have stopped shopping online," she added.
How to act when deceived - Specialists
In an interview with Weekend Trust, financial expert David Elijah mentioned that many individuals have fallen victim to online scams, and more will continue to be deceived if they do not exercise caution.
"Prior to making an online purchase, investigate the individual you're about to give your money to. Review their page and advertisement, along with their social media account. If you feel confident enough, you may proceed," he recommended.
He mentioned that a conversation should begin, as fraudsters are not always willing to wait. 'If you are capable of having meaningful discussions, challenge them with that. Take your time; and avoid rushing because the item is good and the pressure is intense, or the item is too inexpensive. There are other quality items that can be found at a lower cost. You can also consult a reliable person to assist you in verifying,' he recommended.
Regarding methods to reclaim lost funds, he mentioned, "Capture a screenshot of the discussion you had with the online seller on social media. Additionally, note down the complete name and account information of the vendor who defrauded you. If the payment was made through your mobile application or SMS, check your transaction history and record the 'Transaction ID Number' associated with that transaction."
He stated that every bank has a department responsible for online fraud, meaning an email should be sent to the victim's bank's e-fraud unit, along with the bank of the online scammer, providing evidence of the transactions, and a copy of the email should also be forwarded to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) fraud office.
This will enable the bank to freeze the scammer's account. As a result, the scammer won't be able to perform any transactions until they go to the bank. If you don't have their email address, you can go to your bank or the scammer's bank and talk to the fraud department representative to file a complaint. Your bank will guide you through the process of retrieving your funds.
Notify the police and consult a lawyer to request an expert court order. With a court order, the bank will provide the details of your scammer to the police, aiding in their identification and helping you reclaim your funds," he disclosed.
Additionally, a notice on the CBN's website highlights that in today's digital era, fraud and scams are growing more complex, presenting substantial dangers to both individuals and businesses.
When safeguarding against these dangers, it emphasizes the importance of being alert, having awareness, and using appropriate resources.
It recognized various forms of fraud and deception, including: 'Phishing Scams, in which deceivers impersonate genuine entities (like banks or service companies) via emails, SMS messages, or phone calls to mislead people into sharing confidential data, such as passwords, credit card details, or social security numbers.'
Online fraud typically includes counterfeit websites or vendors providing deals that seem excessively good. After making a payment, the item is either not delivered, or the received product is of poor quality.
It recommended that Nigerians only buy from reliable and established websites, verify the presence of secure payment systems (shown by 'https://' in the web address), read feedback, and assess the site's trustworthiness prior to making a purchase.
It also noted that identity theft happens when a fraudster takes personal information to carry out scams, "such as setting up credit accounts under your name, making unauthorized purchases, or submitting false tax returns," along with investment schemes that offer high returns with minimal or no risk.
Such frauds typically include false investment options, like cryptocurrency scams or Ponzi schemes that attract people with the promise of rapid returns.
Additionally, Alkassim Ibrahim, a cybersecurity specialist, mentioned that the initial step to take upon being scammed is to gather proof of the fraud, such as payment receipts and conversation records.
He recommended against reporting the scammer's account or having it disabled, as this could reduce the likelihood of locating the individual, particularly if investigators require his addresses and login activity details.
After gathering the evidence, visit your local police department and submit a report, presenting the proof. Although they may not be able to take significant action, they will now have a documented record of the fraud. You can then reach out to a specialist in cybercrime for further assistance.
Although there is no 100% assurance that you will recover your money, you might be fortunate enough to obtain sufficient details to identify and arrest the individual. This also relies on the amount you have lost. If the loss was not significant, you should move on and take the lesson from your error," he advised.
Another cybersecurity specialist, Dr. KaZeem Durodoye, linked the rise in online fraud to greater digital transformation, noting that the majority of transactional services are now conducted electronically.
"This is certain to lead to a higher incidence of online fraud and an increased number of vulnerabilities in transaction platforms due to the expansion of attack surfaces. Technological developments such as cloud computing, virtualization, and AI are increasing the points of entry, making online scams easier and more profitable," he stated.
He highlighted the importance of boosting cybersecurity knowledge among all internet users, mentioning that his company has a initiative designed for younger people who are highly engaged online.
'Enhance digital hygiene through cybersecurity education. Practices such as employing passphrases rather than passwords, and implementing MFA. Additionally, there needs to be a greater sense of accountability from all involved parties, including both public and private organizations,' he stated.
FCCPC speaks
Commenting on the issue, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission of Nigeria (FCCPC) mentioned that overseeing online sellers who pretend to offer products and services online but ultimately deceive innocent Nigerians relates to safeguarding consumers within the e-commerce industry.
To confirm this is addressed, the FCCPC stated, "The enforcement of adherence in the sector is handled by the appropriate divisions of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), 2018."
The following are key sections of the FCCPA, 2018, under which the FCCPC regulates the sector, including the enforcement of consumer rights. Responsibilities of Manufacturers, Importers, Distributors, and Suppliers of Goods and Services, as well as the enforcement of consumer rights.
"The Dispute Resolution Process, Market Monitoring systems, and the enforcement authority related to consumer rights have enabled the commission to adopt a proactive and adaptable approach in fulfilling its responsibility to safeguard and advance consumer interests within the sector, as it has done in other areas," explained the FCCPC through its Deputy Director for Surveillance and Investigations, Marvin Nadah.
The Commission also required Consumers to utilize their conflict resolution process.
In these situations, grievances are directed to the Commission targeting the product's manufacturer and seller, or the online product's distributor, or any online service provider.
"The FCCPC, through the appropriate implementation of its Act, is not limited in fulfilling its responsibilities within the e-commerce industry and remains committed to doing so in accordance with its mandate," he added.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).
