Mohammed Adamu: Lockdown may increase cyber crime

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has warned that cybercrime and fraud may increase on account of the lockdown imposed across the country to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The covid-19 outbreak has led to lock downs in many parts of Nigeria especially mega cities as Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja.

According to him, intelligence obtained from the International Criminal Police Organisation headquarters in Lyon, France, indicated that Internet fraud and other criminal activities were expected to rise at this time.

Adamu in a statement in Abuja, on Sunday, by the force spokesman, DCP Frank Mba, said scammers in Nigeria and other parts of the globe have begun to create and set up fraudulent websites, e-commerce platforms, fake social media accounts and emails claiming to sell and deliver COVID-19 medical products.

He said, “Specifically, intelligence obtained from the INTERPOL headquarters shows that scammers in Nigeria and other parts of the globe have begun to create and set up fraudulent websites, e-commerce platforms, fake social media accounts and emails claiming to sell and deliver (COVID-19) medical products.

“In some cases, they use the names of prominent companies involved in the production and distribution of these items. Victims are then asked to pay via bank transfer.” The police urged the public to be vigilant and also report suspected fraudsters to security agencies